In light of President Trump’s statement that the ceasefire with Tehran is “over,” Israel is poised to assist in any future strikes against Iran, depending on U.S. requests, as indicated by sources in Jerusalem.
“We’ve shown our alignment with America,” one official noted. “It’s uncertain if involving Israel aligns with U.S. interests, yet we understand that we must be prepared to act.”
The official further asserted, “If needed, we will take action again.”
On Wednesday, Trump authorized another round of attacks on Iran, following harsh criticisms of the Iranian government during the NATO summit, labeling its leaders as “scum,” “evil,” and “sick.”
About 90 targets were hit that night, up from approximately 80 the previous day. The targets included missile and drone launch sites, command posts of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, air defense systems, and logistical assets like railways.
Israel had allied with the U.S. at the onset of the conflict on February 28 by targeting Iran’s leadership and vital installations. However, there’s been tension between Trump and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu regarding the timing and strategy to halt the fighting, which has extended into Lebanon.
Although Israel hasn’t yet engaged, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Thursday that the IDF is “prepared to strike Iran for a third time with intensified force if warranted.”
Nitsana Leitner, head of the Israel Law Center and linked to government officials, agreed that if the U.S. called for Israel’s military support against Iran, “Israel would act, not just verbally but through actual military collaboration.”
“While some European nations react to Tehran’s threats with mere words, Israel recognizes that extremist threats like Iran need direct confrontation,” she explained.
“It seems Europe’s governments respond more passionately to Trump’s FIFA comments than to Iran’s assaults on civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.
Nevertheless, sources in Jerusalem expressed a desire to avoid a return to earlier war times when shelters were regularly utilized due to Iranian missile attacks on Israel. “We want to acknowledge the situation in Iran without reverting to those days,” one source commented just prior to the latest U.S. airstrikes.
Trump mentioned that his perspective of the Iranian negotiators shifted significantly after “getting to know them,” adding, “They’re uncool. There’s definitely something off there.” This remark followed Iran’s attacks on three commercial ships despite a ceasefire aimed at ensuring safe navigation.
Netanyahu has yet to publicly address the recent strikes but has consistently warned against trusting Iran, stating last month that Israel would respond whenever necessary.
“Israel has a right to defend itself, and we will use that right as needed,” he declared in a broadcast on June 8, expressing gratitude for his dialogues with Trump.
Currently, Israeli intelligence assesses that Iran lacks an agenda to provoke conflict with Israel, which is why there were no targeted attacks on the Jewish state in the recent escalation, as reported by two Israeli officials.
Following Trump’s intensified rhetoric towards Tehran, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz convened for urgent security discussions on Wednesday night, though details remain undisclosed.
The IDF remains on high alert as intelligence teams continuously update their target lists, maintaining operational coordination with U.S. forces.
Israeli skepticism concerning Iran’s motives in the negotiations persists. “We’ve been doubtful of Iranian intentions from the start, but we respect Trump’s efforts,” an official remarked, noting, “I believe it’s clear that the Iranians are playing a game.”
This skepticism resulted in a tense exchange between Trump and Netanyahu during discussions over the now-expired U.S.-Iran agreement.
Most of Netanyahu’s concerns have revolved around Iran’s ballistic missile threats, which were notably absent from the memorandum despite being a key topic of discussion early on.
Trump has previously asserted that his successors are “more reasonable,” yet Israeli officials argue their actions suggest otherwise. One official stated, “We must assess the administration by its actions. We don’t see significant changes when evaluating their conducts.” This sentiment reflects a “reality check for all players” regarding their relations with Iran.
