Katz Says IDF Must Keep Independent Iran Strike Ready

At 19:58 IDT, a Defense Ministry-distributed statement said Defense Minister Israel Katz held a multi-front assessment marking 1,000 days since the Hamas-led October 7 massacre. Katz said Israel had thwarted Iran's nuclear program and must keep the IDF ready for an independent blue-and-white strike in Iran whenever required. The update said Katz was told 83% of Hamas tunnels in Gaza's yellow-line area have been destroyed, while IDF security zones in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria will be held for the long term. Israel should treat this as readiness discipline: wartime gains matter only if Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah cannot rebuild.