At different moments, he warned of devastating consequences for Iran, then hours later claimed the regime was ready to negotiate and desperate for a deal.

The soldiers were named as Lt. Matan Abramovitz (21), from Ganei Tikva; Staff Sgt. Uri Lamed (20), from Tel Mond; and Sgts. Amit Arye Regev (19), from Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, and Gadi Kotal (20), from Kibbutz Afikim.