Israel thanks US for backing against Iranian missile threat

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke overnight with his American counterpart, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, The Times of Israel reports, citing his office.

According to a readout from the defense minister’s office, Katz expressed his condolences over the deaths of six US servicemembers who were killed in Iranian attacks, “and noted that Israel is doing and will continue to do everything to assist in protecting the safety of US troops in the region.”

“Katz asked to thank US President [Donald] Trump for the great support for Israel and noted that the cooperation between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu against Iran is changing regional and global history,” the statement says.

Katz also thanked Hegseth “for his great support for Israel and for the extensive assistance in defending the citizens of the State of Israel against the Iranian missile threat, and noted the close and unprecedented cooperation between the militaries to achieve all of the war’s objectives.”

According to the defense minister’s office, Hegseth “praised the unprecedented cooperation between the militaries and the capabilities of the IDF” and told Katz: “Continue to the end, we are with you.”