Defense Minister Israel Katz toured Israel's eastern front Wednesday, warning of Iranian attempts to establish a new proxy force along the Jordanian border. The visit comes amid heightened concerns about Iran's regional expansion following reported changes in Syria.
During the high-level security tour, Katz declared, "We've destroyed and severely damaged Khamenei's tentacles in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. I'm here to ensure Iran doesn't succeed in establishing another Iranian proxy force."
Accompanied by senior military officials including Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Amir Baram and Central Command Chief Major General Avi Bluth, Katz received operational and intelligence briefings about the eastern border situation.
"Khamenei blamed Israel today for Assad's fall in Syria," Katz stated. "He should instead blame himself for spending hundreds of billions of Iranian people's money in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza to build proxy forces aimed at defeating Israel."
The minister highlighted specific security concerns about weapons smuggling operations: "We're monitoring all attempts to smuggle weapons and funding through Jordan into West Bank refugee camps, aimed at generating terrorism against Israel. I've instructed the IDF to increase offensive operations against any terrorist activity."
Katz also announced accelerated construction of the Israel-Jordan border barrier: "We will build this fence quickly to ensure protection and prevent the growth of an Iranian proxy force here - before it can establish itself and to strengthen our security control in this region."
