IDF and US Deny Report of Apology After Katz Reveals US Jets Fly From Israel

A Saudi media report claimed that U.S. Central Command was angered after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz publicly stated that American aircraft and refueling planes have been operating from Israeli bases for strikes against Iran. According to the Al Hadath report, which cited an anonymous IDF source, the comments exposed sensitive operational details and prompted IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to apologize to CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper. The same account suggested Israel raised its alert level in the aftermath. The story quickly circulated as evidence of friction between the close allies.

Both the IDF and a senior U.S. official moved quickly to reject a key part of the report. An Israeli military official stated clearly that no such conversation took place and that Zamir has not spoken with Cooper since Katz’s Channel 14 interview. Journalist Barak Ravid separately quoted a senior American source who confirmed the same point: there was no discussion between the two commanders regarding the minister’s remarks. Neither side directly addressed the broader claim of CENTCOM displeasure, leaving that element of the story unconfirmed.

What remains clear is the depth of ongoing military cooperation between the United States and Israel against the Iranian threat. Katz’s comments reflected a reality of joint operations that both sides have worked hard to maintain. For supporters of the U.S.-Israel alliance under President Trump, the rapid denials of any formal apology underscore that operational sensitivities exist but do not define the relationship. The partnership continues to function at a high level even as media reports attempt to highlight every possible point of tension.