US informed Israel before expanding Iran strikes

While avoiding direct confrontation with Israel, Iran has continued attacking Gulf states and US military installations.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Israeli officials do not currently expect to become directly involved in the escalating military confrontation between the United States and Iran, even as Washington broadens its campaign against Iranian targets and prepares to strike additional infrastructure and energy facilities.

The United States notified Israel of its plans to widen the operation before US Central Command announced Thursday that it had launched another round of attacks against Iran, extending the campaign into a sixth consecutive night.

Israeli officials assess that Tehran is seeking to avoid opening a front with Israel and is instead concentrating its response on the United States and American interests across the region.

At the same time, officials stressed that the assessment is not a guarantee and that the military remains prepared should the situation change.

“We are ready, and if they make that mistake they will pay a heavy price. Let them come,” an Israeli official said.

Officials said Israel would likely enter the conflict under two circumstances: if Iran launches an attack against Israeli territory or if Washington formally requests Israeli participation in the military campaign. They said neither condition has been met.

While avoiding direct confrontation with Israel, Iran has continued attacking Gulf states and US military installations throughout the Middle East.

Launches were reported toward Jordan and Kuwait, where authorities said 32 drones had been intercepted since Thursday morning.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that American forces struck a communications tower in the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz. Another report said seven people were injured in the attack.

Iranian military spokesman Abolfazl Shakarchi warned that further strikes on Iranian infrastructure would broaden the conflict.

“The only way through the region is through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, adding, “If our infrastructure is attacked, all infrastructure in the region will become our target.”

Meanwhile, the White House said Iran continues to communicate with Washington and “wants a deal,” while accusing Tehran of violating the memorandum of understanding through attacks on Gulf states.

Speaking to Al Arabiya, President Isaac Herzog backed the US response and questioned the prospects for an agreement with Tehran, saying, “With the Iranian pattern of behavior that we know, you cannot make deals with them.”