Israeli minister says 'no one can tell us what to do' amid US rift

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday declared that Israel would respond "immediately and with force" to any Iranian attack, insisting that "no one can tell us what to do" as tensions mount between Jerusalem and Washington over a recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Speaking to Channel 14, Katz emphasized Israel's independent military posture, stating: "If Iran attacks us, we will act immediately and respond with force. No one can tell us what to do, and we have proven that." He added that "all the capabilities exist and are being built" to ensure Israel could "respond immediately or act later" against regional threats.

Katz stressed that Israel had never requested American military intervention against Hezbollah in Lebanon, against jihadist elements in Syria or against Hamas in Gaza. "We never asked the US to fight with us against Hezbollah in Lebanon, against jihadist elements in Syria or against Hamas in Gaza," he said. "We do that alone," he added, noting that Israel expected Washington to provide a diplomatic umbrella rather than military support. "We expected, and still expect, that the US will back our right and give us a diplomatic umbrella, not a military one, to act against all these enemies," he said.

US warns against attacking allies

US Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Israeli officials earlier Thursday for attacking the US-Iran understanding reached between Washington and Tehran. Speaking at the White House, Vance said: "If I were in the Cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world." He noted that some members of the Israeli government had "very personally attacked the President of the United States" following the agreement's announcement.

The Pakistani mediator officially announced that the memorandum had entered into force, with Iran set to begin reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic in exchange for the US starting to lift its naval blockade on Tehran. Israeli officials had criticized the decision and vowed not to follow its provisions, particularly regarding Lebanon, despite the deal aiming to end fighting on all fronts.

Strikes persist in Lebanon and Syria

Despite the US-Iran agreement reportedly including provisions to end hostilities in Lebanon, Israeli strikes continued after midnight, according to local reports. Katz insisted Israel would not withdraw from what he termed "security zones" in neighboring territories. "In Lebanon, in Syria and in Gaza, we will not move from the security zones," he said. "Not in Syria, not in Gaza and not in Lebanon, we will not leave there under any circumstances."

According to the latest official figures, Israel's military offensive in Lebanon since March 2 has killed 3,912 people, injured 11,873 others and displaced more than one million residents. Israeli forces also maintain a presence in Syria, where they have carried out airstrikes since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, targeting military sites and killing civilians despite the new Syrian administration issuing no threats toward Israel.