Israel Minister Katz, Israel's defense minister, said a recent operation to rescue the U.S. military fighter pilot shot down over Iran was a result of cooperation between the United States and Israel.
On the 5th (local time), Minister Katz said after a battlefield assessment meeting with Israel's military leadership that it was an example of how closely the two countries can cooperate even in the most complex situations.
He did not mention specific roles, but according to a report by the local outlet Times of Israel, Israel's intelligence assets made a key contribution to the search-and-rescue process. It was also reported that the Israeli Air Force provided indirect support by postponing nearby airstrike schedules while the U.S. operation was underway.
Minister Katz also delivered a warning message to Iran. He said that if missile attacks targeting Israeli civilians continue, Iran will pay a heavy price, adding that the country's critical infrastructure could suffer serious damage.
He also argued that Iran's petrochemical industry has provided massive funding to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in recent years and that the funds were used for missile development. He said this was the backdrop for Israel striking petrochemical facilities inside Iran.
The remarks are seen as Israel emphasizing military coordination with the United States while ratcheting up pressure on Iran amid rising military tensions in the Middle East.