Netanyahu Pushes for Attack on Iran; Trump Declines

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pressuring U.S. President Donald Trump to launch a new joint military strike against Iran. However, Trump has not authorized such an attack ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

An Israeli security source told CNN that Netanyahu attempted to persuade Trump to carry out a joint strike on Iran before the elections, but Trump did not give the green light.

The source noted that one reason for this was a concern raised by Eyal Zamir, a senior official in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Zamir had informed General Dan Dunford—Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff—that an attack on Iran at this time could negatively impact Israel’s own elections and potentially lead to their postponement.

Another source familiar with the matter told CNN that Israel was preparing for a new strike on Iran as recently as last week, and had been seeking support from U.S. officials. However, Trump and other senior U.S. officials urged Israel to hold off on any such action for the time being, while hinting at the possibility of a joint operation in the future.

According to these sources, although Israel has shelved its immediate plans for an attack, it continues to prepare for a potential joint operation with the United States—one that could take place following the U.S. midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the prospect of retaliatory strikes from Iran or Houthi rebels in Yemen has placed significant strain on Israel’s missile defense systems. In this context, sources indicate that Israel requires military assistance from the United States.

At a recent military event, Netanyahu stated that he has instructed the Israel Defense Forces and the country’s intelligence agencies to work toward the collapse of the Iranian regime. Nevertheless, a final decision from Trump regarding a new attack has yet to be reached.