Hegseth Tells Katz to Continue Iran Campaign “Until the End”

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Israel to continue its campaign against Iran during an overnight call with Defense Minister Israel Katz, underscoring the close military partnership between Washington and Israel as the war enters its sixth day.

“Keep going to the end—we are with you,” Hegseth told Katz during the conversation, according to a readout released Thursday by Israel’s Defense Ministry.

The call came as Israel and the United States continue coordinated military operations against the Islamic Republic known as “Operation Roaring Lion” in Israel and “Operation Epic Fury” in the United States. Both sides highlighted what the Israeli readout described as “close and unprecedented cooperation” between their militaries as the operation unfolds.

Katz said the partnership between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reshaping the region. “The cooperation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is changing history,” Katz said, according to the statement.

During the call, Katz conveyed condolences for the deaths of six American service members killed during the campaign and stressed that Israel is doing everything possible to help protect U.S. forces stationed in the region. He also thanked Washington for what the ministry described as “extensive assistance” in defending Israeli civilians from Iranian missile attacks.

Hegseth echoed the message of close cooperation publicly a day earlier during a press conference at the Pentagon, where he praised Israel’s role in the campaign and highlighted the two countries’ military coordination. Israel is a “capable partner,” he said, contrasting the Jewish state with what he described as more hesitant traditional allies.

Speaking yesterday alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the defense secretary said U.S. and Israeli forces are continuing efforts to degrade Iran’s military capabilities. “Iran is toast, and they know it,” Hegseth said.

He added that the allies expect to achieve control of Iranian airspace in the coming days, allowing sustained strikes against missile launch systems, military infrastructure and command networks. “We will fly all day, all night, day and night, finding, fixing and finishing the missiles and defense-industrial base of the Iranian military,” Hegseth said.

He stressed that the campaign was designed to decisively weaken Tehran’s ability to threaten U.S. forces and regional allies. “This was never meant to be a fair fight, and it is not a fair fight,” he said.

According to the Pentagon, Iranian missile and drone attacks have declined significantly since the start of the campaign, while U.S. forces have carried out extensive strikes against Iranian military targets across the region.