Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued a blunt warning to Iran on Thursday after convening a high-level security assessment with Israel’s top military leadership, declaring that while Israel is preparing for every possible scenario, any Iranian attack would be met with overwhelming force.

Katz met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir as tensions with Iran continued to mount and intelligence officials monitored the possibility of further escalation.

Also participating in the security consultation were Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, the commander of the Israeli Air Force, the head of the Operations Directorate, the head of the Intelligence Directorate, the head of the Planning and Force Build-Up Directorate, the commander of the Home Front Command, and other senior defense officials.

At the outset of the meeting, Katz delivered a direct message to Tehran, stating, “We are preparing for every possibility. If Iran attacks Israel, it will suffer a crushing blow.”

The security meeting followed growing assessments among Western intelligence agencies that Iran could choose to launch the next round of hostilities by striking Israel first. Earlier Thursday, Likud MK Moshe Saada echoed those concerns during an interview on Channel 14, saying, “We all know that we’re approaching a strike on Iran-perhaps even this weekend. Those are the current assessments.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told Axios on Thursday that he is weighing the possibility of launching a major military strike against Iran. Speaking with journalist Barak Ravid, Trump acknowledged that such a decision would carry far-reaching consequences but emphasized that he had not yet made a final determination.

“I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it,” Trump said.

The President added that Israel “would join within two minutes if I asked,” while stressing that “we don’t need anyone” to carry out a military operation against Iran.

{Matzav.com}