Keane: Israelis Have Had More Air Power In This Fight Than We Have—What They Could Do is Significant

Retired US. Army General Jack Keane said on Friday that Israel has consistently contributed more air power to the military campaign against Iran than the United States, a fact he said is rarely discussed publicly but carries major implications for how any resumed military operation should be structured and led.

Speaking on Fox News, on Friday May 8, 2026, General Keane made the point during a broader discussion about whether the Trump administration should abandon ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran and return to active military operations.

He argued that the case for resuming those operations was strong, and that Israel’s considerable air capabilities made a renewed campaign both feasible and potentially decisive.

General Keane began by crediting President Trump for launching the original operation following the October 7 attack on Israel, which he described as devastating. He said the president had correctly identified Iran as the driving force behind regional instability and had acted where previous administrations had not.

He noted that other presidents had recognized the Iranian threat but had largely chosen to ignore it rather than confront it directly.

In his words, General Keane said, “From the outset, we don’t talk about it much, it is a fact, Israelis have had more air power in this fight than we have had and have more in it right now. What they could do here in terms of air power is significant,” he said, adding that Israel had a fully developed bombing campaign ready to be executed against Iranian leadership, energy infrastructure, and weapons systems.

Keane outlined a division of military responsibilities that he believed made strategic sense. He said the United States should focus its primary effort on taking control of the Strait of Hormuz and securing it for international navigation.

He also pointed out that when the ceasefire was agreed upon approximately one month before the interview, American and allied forces had been roughly two weeks away from completing key military objectives….See More