Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hailed the results of the unprecedented cooperation between their two nations in Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury.
In less than a week, the combined US-Israeli aerial assault has eliminated most of the Iranian regime’s top leadership, fully destroyed the Iranian Navy, decimated the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile forces and manufacturing capabilities, and severely weakened the forces used to suppress the Iranian population.
All of this was made possible by the rapid achievement of air superiority in the two allies’ areas of responsibility–Israel in western Iran and over Tehran, and the US military along the southern Iranian coast and up into central Iran.
“Changing history”
In an overnight call with Hegseth, Katz said that the US-Israel cooperation in confronting the Islamic Republic was “changing history.”
Katz expressed Israel’s deepest condolences over the deaths of six US troops during the first week of the campaign, and said Israeli forces would continue to do everything possible to defend their allies.
Hegseth in turn expressed America’s gratitude to Israel, and urged the Israelis to “keep going to the end–we are with you.”
High praise for Israeli forces
Hegseth told reporters at a Pentagon briefing that the US deeply appreciates working with such a capable ally.
“To our steadfast partner, Israel, your mission is being executed with unmatched skill and iron determination,” he stated, adding: “Fighting shoulder to shoulder with such a capable ally is a true force multiplier and a breath of fresh air. We salute your courage and your contribution.”
“To our steadfast partner, Israel, your mission is being executed with unmatched skill and iron determination. Fighting shoulder to shoulder with such a capable ally is a true force multiplier and a breath of fresh air. We salute your courage and your contribution.”
— @SecWar pic.twitter.com/kWZmWJC37A
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) March 4, 2026
A day earlier, Hegseth effectively called out America’s other Western allies, and suggested they take notes on Israel’s conduct.
The US, he said, had “clear missions” in Operation Epic Fury aimed at protecting American and Western interests. And Israel is doing its part to bolster those missions while protecting its own interests.
“Israel has clear missions as well, for which we are grateful,” Hegseth said. “As we’ve said since the beginning, capable partners are good partners. Unlike so many of our traditional allies, who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force.”
Advanced timetable
Israel has originally planned to assault the Iranian regime in mid-2026, Katz revealed on Wednesday.
But the events that transpired in Iran in January, including the massacre of over 30,000 demonstrators by regime forces, and the opportunity to work with US forces to fulfill the promises of both President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to send help, necessitated advancing the timetable.
“Developments and circumstances—especially what happened inside Iran, the position of the US president and the possibility of creating a combined operation—created the need to move everything up,” Katz told troops during a visit to the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate.
Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, joined Katz in applauding his troops, whose work in gathering deep intelligence on the Iranian regime had made possible the stunning success of the opening wave of US-Israeli airstrikes last Shabbat.
“Anyone who chooses to engage in such [hostile] actions against the State of Israel, against the residents of the State of Israel, against our future here, we will find them, and we will eliminate them,” warned Binder.
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