Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that Israel's mission against Iran was not complete and warned Lebanon's Hezbollah against joining Iran in any attack on Israel.
Katz again accused Iran of trying to obtain nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has denied. Iran has been attacked twice since last year in major Israeli-US bombing campaigns.
“With regard to Iran, the mission is still not complete. Iran is trying to renew its efforts to obtain nuclear weapons — alongside other grave efforts that place the State of Israel in real danger,” Katz said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened fresh strikes against Iran in recent weeks. It remained unclear whether he had the support of US President Donald Trump.
Israel's Channel 12 reported on Friday that Netanyahu and the Mossad intelligence service had attempted an operation against Iran on the eve of Israel's October 27 election, but the United States found out and stopped it.
Katz said Israel would not withdraw from security zones in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. He said Hezbollah would face “extremely severe blows” if it chose to join Iran in an attack on Israel.
Speaking at a ceremony for Israeli troops killed in a 1956 attack on Egypt, Katz called for unity despite political differences. Netanyahu suffered losses in the October 27 election, after which his rival Gadi Eisenkot was tasked with forming a new government.
