Israel’s Defense Minister Warns of Escalating Attacks on Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated on Friday that if Iran persists in launching missiles, the attacks on its territory will “escalate and expand.” This declaration came alongside reports from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) about significant strikes targeting key installations in Tehran, particularly those involved in missile production.

Katz’s remarks followed Iran’s latest missile assault on Israeli cities, which was largely thwarted. He asserted that Iran “will pay an increasingly heavy price for this war crime,” indicating the severity of the situation. Iran’s missile attacks involve unguided cluster munitions, classified as war crimes under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which both Iran and Israel did not endorse.

“The Prime Minister and I have cautioned Iran’s terrorist regime to cease missile strikes on Israeli civilians,” Katz remarked, adding that the attacks will continue unless Iran changes course. He warned that the repercussions for these actions would result in broader strikes against Iran, targeting areas supporting its military operations against Israel.

According to IDF reports, on Friday, the Israeli Air Force targeted a major Iranian facility responsible for producing missiles designed to engage maritime targets from ships, submarines, and helicopters. The IDF emphasized that this facility develops the bulk of the Iranian Navy’s missile and mine arsenal.

Israeli analysts noted that bombing the facilities in Yazd would significantly impair Iran’s naval production capabilities. Multiple sites, including weapons production facilities and military bases, were targeted, with the IDF indicating that one an Iranian commander had been striking against Israel.

On Friday, Iran launched several ballistic missiles at Israeli cities, with at least one carrying a cluster bomb warhead. Fortunately, the IDF claimed to have intercepted all of them, resulting in no severe damage or injuries.

Meanwhile, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia reported being attacked by Iran via both missiles and drones that day. Kuwait mentioned that Iranian strikes on two of its commercial ports caused material, but not human, damage.

Among the locations targeted was a construction site at Mubarak al-Kabir port, linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, marking the first attack on Chinese assets in the region since the launch of Operation Epic Fury. Additionally, Iran’s military moved to evacuate two Chinese-owned container ships from the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a rise in tensions with its key ally. The Chinese government has not yet responded to these incidents.

In a related event, three individuals in Abu Dhabi sustained injuries from fragments of an intercepted missile. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that they had thwarted an Iranian missile aimed at Riyadh, along with multiple drone attacks the previous night.

Sources in Saudi Arabia revealed that the country’s leader, Mohammad bin Salman, has taken a strong stance against Iranian aggression, reportedly urging President Trump not to halt Operation Epic Fury until its objectives are fulfilled.

President Trump described MBS as a “warrior” standing alongside the U.S. amid these developments. Analysts suggested that if Iran disregards ceasefire negotiations facilitated by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia could escalate military action against Iran.

“If Iran is genuinely involved, a path to de-escalation exists. However, if they continue their attacks, it will trigger a response from Saudi Arabia,” remarked Saudi geopolitical analyst Mohammed al-Hamed.

In a recent statement, Saudi Arabia indicated that Iran’s missile threats to Riyadh pose significant risks, overshadowing concerns about potential threats to Red Sea shipping routes. Iranian officials also signaled their capability to disrupt critical global shipping lanes, which could bring about a new level of conflict involving proxy forces in the region.