"We will go back with even greater force," Katz vows

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday the country was prepared to relaunch its military campaign against Iran "with even greater force" if needed, as fresh strikes between the United States and Iran raised fears the ceasefire could collapse entirely.

"The army is ready and on alert for a resumption of fighting, in order to regain air superiority and strike again… in Iran, to eliminate threats, including a third time if necessary," Katz said at a military ceremony. "If we have to go back, we will go back, with even greater force," he added.

The remarks came a day after the United States launched new strikes on Iran, and as Tehran struck back at Washington's regional allies, deepening fears of a return to full-scale war.

Speaking at the same ceremony, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had been weakened by two previous military campaigns Israel launched against it, declaring the "Iranian axis is weaker than ever before, while Israel is stronger than ever before." He acknowledged, however, that the conflict was not yet over.