Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Israel Defense Forces will hit Iran with full force if the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacks [1].
This escalation follows a U.S.–Iran cease-fire announcement and occurs as Israel continues military operations in Lebanon. The threat serves as a deterrent against retaliatory strikes intended to avenge recent Israeli actions in Beirut.
During a press briefing on June 14, 2025, Katz said that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon [1]. The warning comes amid rising tensions after Iranian missile strikes and subsequent Israeli responses in Lebanon.
Recent Israeli military actions have resulted in significant casualties in Lebanon. In the Dahiyeh suburb of Beirut, at least 217 people were killed [3]. Separate strikes in central Beirut resulted in at least 182 deaths [2].
Israeli forces also targeted leadership within the Iranian military. Reports indicate that two Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders were killed by Israeli forces [1].
Katz said the military response would be comprehensive if the IRGC initiates further attacks. The Israeli government maintains that the current U.S.–Iran cease-fire does not apply to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon [2].
Israel continues to position its forces along the southern border to prevent further incursions. The government has signaled that its strategic goals in the region remain unchanged despite international diplomatic efforts to stabilize the area.
“Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Israel Defense Forces will hit Iran with full force if the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacks”
The refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon and the explicit threat against the IRGC suggest that Israel is decoupling its military objectives in Lebanon from the broader diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. By maintaining a presence in the south and targeting high-ranking commanders, Israel is attempting to establish a new security perimeter while signaling that a cease-fire between Tehran and Washington does not guarantee an end to hostilities with Israeli forces.
