Israel says U.S. bombers used its bases to strike Iran
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that U.S. warplanes have utilized Israeli bases to conduct strikes against Iran. While Israel has not directly participated in the recent hostilities, officials warned that the country is prepared to retaliate if targeted by Iranian forces.
Why it matters
This disclosure underscores the deepening military integration between the U.S. and Israel in the Middle East and highlights the escalating regional tensions involving Iran.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) said that American warplanes used Israeli bases during their attacks on Iran, reiterating that his country was prepared to retaliate if targeted.
Fighting between the U.S. and Iran has been paused since Friday (July 24, 2026) after 13 nights of U.S. strikes on the Islamic Republic, after an April ceasefire collapsed.
Israel has not taken part in the latest round of hostilities in the war that began in late February with a wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
"The fact is that, at the moment — and this could change within an hour -- the Iranians are firing at everything in the region except one country: the State of Israel," Mr. Katz told Israel's right-wing Channel 14 .
"They know that American aircraft are taking off from here to carry out strikes," he added.
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