In response to the recent raid on Israeli territory by Iran, US officials believe that Israel is more likely to target Iranian proxy forces and soldiers abroad instead of directly attacking Iran. According to four US officials, their comments were based on discussions between Washington and Tel Aviv before Iran’s attack.
The attack, which involved more than 300 missiles and drones, was a retaliation for an earlier attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria that killed 7 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. During the discussions between the US and Israel, the Israeli side informed the US of various response scenarios, ranging from no military action to a direct attack on Iranian territory. However, due to the lack of casualties and major damage caused by Iran’s raid, Israel is more likely to choose a softer response by targeting proxies or soldiers outside of Iran’s territory, such as in Syria.
Despite not having a final decision from Israel’s war cabinet on the method and timing of retaliation, there is a consensus among its members on the need to respond to Iran. The US government has not been informed of Israel’s final decision or any potential changes in their response scenario following Iran’s attack. Both governments have refrained from commenting on the situation publicly.
Israel aims to coordinate its actions with Washington in order to avoid sparking conflict in the region and maintaining alliances against Iran. Both countries have previously called on Israel to exercise restraint in order to reduce tensions in the Middle East.
