Israel warns of third Iran strike as US tries to limit its role
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While Israeli leaders signaled that their country was ready to attack Iran for the third time, a US official told Fox News Digital that Washington continues to coordinate closely with Jerusalem.
“The IDF is on high alert and ready to continue operations, regain air superiority and carry out an independent Israeli strike against Iran to eliminate threats, even if for the third time,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Minister Israel Katz said in his speech at the graduation ceremony of the Israeli Air Force’s newest pilots on Thursday. he said.
“If we have to return, we will return with even greater force,” Katz added.
ISRAELI DEFENSE CHIEF WARNED THAT ATTACKS AGAINST IRAN WILL CONTINUE SOON, SIGNALS THAT THE CAMPAIGN IS NOT OVER
US Central Command shared these images in its press release dated July 8, 2026, regarding the attacks against Iran. (CENTCOM)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned on Thursday that Israel’s campaign against Iran was not yet over and said Tehran would not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons regardless of any agreement reached with Washington.
“The war is not over yet,” Netanyahu said at the air force ceremony. “New challenges emerge alongside old ones. Axes are falling, axes are rising. We pay attention to this. We are prepared for every scenario.”
Two Israeli sources told CNN on Friday that the Trump administration does not currently want Israel to participate in the latest US attacks on Iran.
“Netanyahu would really want to join the US strikes, but the US does not want Israel to get involved right now,” one of the sources told CNN.
A US official denied the report, telling Fox News Digital: “This is fake news. The US has a strong relationship with Israel, which contributed to the great success of Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury. We remain in close coordination with our Israeli partners.”
Israel first launched a major offensive against Iran in June 2025; Later, the United States joined the conflict by striking the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. On February 28, the two allies launched a new, coordinated military operation against Iran.
While Israeli leaders publicly present the military’s readiness for another operation, some Israeli officials and analysts say there is little appetite for renewed conflict unless it produces a clear strategic outcome.
Nadav Eyal, an Israeli analyst and journalist for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth, said public warnings may exaggerate Israel’s desire to re-enter the war.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Eyal said, “On the record, Israel is signaling that it is ready and even willing to attack Iran. But off the record sources say it is anything but that.” he said. “The reason for this is clear: any Israeli attack on Iran will lead to Iranian ballistic missile attacks on Israel.”
THE USA GAINED BACK THE KEY TIMS IT GIVEN TO IRAN AFTER THE NEW ATTACKS ON MERCHANT SHIPS IN THE STRAIT OF KORUZ
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from left, U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 in Washington, DC, United States. Trump insisted that Egypt and Jordan would take Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and dismissed the countries’ refusal to accept people from the war-torn areas. Photographer: Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Getty Images)
Eyal said domestic political consequences could make Netanyahu reluctant to begin a new round of war, especially as Israel approaches a new election.
“If these attacks are aimed at achieving meaningful, strategic change, that’s something the prime minister can sell to the public,” Eyal said. “But if the goal is simply to use Israel as leverage, why would Israelis sit in safe rooms for a few weeks or more and experience losing summer vacations, children’s day camps and summer camps? This could have bad consequences politically for the prime minister.”
“The truth is that Israel was not very keen on another attack,” he added. “That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. If President Trump demands that Netanyahu attend, it’s very hard to see Israelis saying no. But I don’t see the passion for it right now.”
Even when Trump announced the end of the ceasefire with Iran, diplomatic assistance continued.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran asked us to continue ‘talks’. We agreed to do so, but the USA made it clear to them that the ceasefire was over!” Trump shared a post on Truth Social.
A source with knowledge of the situation told Fox News that Qatari negotiators, in coordination with the United States, went to Iran to meet with Iranian officials to defuse the situation and create the conditions for negotiations to resume.
According to the statement made by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu and Trump spoke on the phone on Thursday and it was stated that the two agreed to continue coordination on various regional fronts. The statement stated that Trump gave Netanyahu information about American operations in the Gulf.
NETANYAHU DENIES REPORTS OF DISPUTE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, SAYS THEY ARE HOLDING UP ON IRAN
A satellite image shows damage to the control tower in Iran’s Chabahar port on July 9, 2026, after the US military said on July 8, 2026 that it had launched new attacks on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to ships. (2026 Paper via PLANET LABS PBC/Reuters)
The military warnings came as the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Israel had provided the United States with intelligence about what was described as a new Iranian assassination plot against Trump.
The developments follow renewed attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, where US naval officials said the maritime threat remained “serious”. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command reminded commercial ships on Friday that the extended southern route through the strait remains open and that no controlling authority can require ships to pay for passage.
A U.S. official told Fox News on background that Iran’s attacks on commercial ships were “an act of terrorism” and constituted a failed performance under the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.
“The United States is still committed to finding a solution and technical talks are continuing,” the official said. “Iran can never have nuclear weapons.”
Brig. Gen. Yossi Kuperwasser, a former senior Israeli military intelligence officer who is now head of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, said Israel never viewed the memorandum as a sufficient guarantee.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Kuperwasser said about the memorandum of understanding between the USA and Iran: “From Israel’s perspective, the Memorandum of Understanding was never a good agreement.”
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CENTCOM shared images of attacks on aircraft during the Iran war (U.S. Central Command at X)
“Israel must be on high alert, ready for an Iranian attack and ready to respond if necessary,” he added.
For now, Israeli leaders appear to be leaving Iran and Washington with little doubt that they are ready to act. But whether the United States allows Israel to join the renewed campaign will determine whether the latest conflict will remain limited or escalate into another full-scale regional war.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
