Israel Braces for Possible Escalation as U.S. Expands Strikes on Iran
Israel is preparing for the possibility of a significant escalation with Iran after the United States informed the Israeli government that it intends to broaden its military campaign against Iranian targets in the coming days, according to Israeli and American security officials.
Despite the planned expansion of the U.S. operation, Washington has made clear that it prefers to keep Israel out of the current phase of the conflict and avoid drawing it directly into the fighting.
During recent strategic discussions between Israeli and American officials, the possibility was raised that Iran could decide to “break the rules” by launching missile attacks against Israel, a move that would almost certainly trigger an Israeli military response. U.S. officials have indicated that they are seeking to prevent such a scenario and keep the conflict centered in the Gulf region.
Over the past 24 hours, the United States has transferred additional equipment and munitions to support American fighter aircraft operating in the region. At the same time, 10 more U.S. aerial refueling aircraft arrived in Israel from Europe and from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as part of preparations for potential Iranian attacks on American military installations throughout the Gulf.
According to senior Israeli officials, Turkey also warned that it could provide air support to Iran if Kurdish forces entered the country as part of a reported Mossad-backed ground operation. The officials said this was the scenario President Donald Trump was referring to when he recently stated that Turkey had come close to becoming directly involved in the conflict. Under the alleged Mossad plan, Kurdish fighters would have received aerial protection from the Israeli Air Force during the operation.
Meanwhile, Channel 13 News reported that Qatar has presented a new proposal aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Under the Qatari initiative, the United States would suspend its airstrikes, while Iran would commit to reopening two shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz for a period of 10 days.
Israeli officials are also evaluating several scenarios that could pull Israel into a broader war, including a direct Iranian missile attack, intelligence indicating preparations for an imminent strike that would require a preemptive Israeli attack, or a request from President Trump for Israeli military participation. One senior Israeli official said the likelihood of escalation “has increased significantly over the past 24 hours.”
The heightened concerns come after Iran fired four missiles Sunday toward Jordan and other areas in the Gulf following overnight U.S. strikes inside Iranian territory.
According to reports, President Trump has informed mediators that unless a ceasefire is reached this week, they should prepare for a further escalation of military operations.
A senior Israeli military officer told Channel 13 News that had any of the Iranian missiles struck Eilat, Israel would have been obligated to respond militarily.
In the meantime, Israel is increasing its preparedness for the possibility of Iranian missile attacks while sending a clear warning to Tehran.
“Our strike plans are ready,” Israeli officials said.
Senior Israeli officials also told Channel 14 News that the confrontation with Iran appears to be on a course toward an almost unavoidable collision. They believe key decisions could be made within days, raising the possibility of renewed high-intensity fighting with Iran as early as this week.
Even as Iran’s confrontation with the United States intensifies, Tehran has not yet decided whether to expand the conflict by attacking Israel directly. Israeli assessments indicate that Iranian leaders have not reached a final decision but could do so in the near future.
Israel’s political and security leadership has already determined that if Iran launches attacks against Israeli territory, the country will respond aggressively to eliminate the threat.
Another possibility under discussion is that the United States could decide to broaden its military campaign and ask Israel to join the operation. Israeli officials indicated that Jerusalem would welcome such a request and view it as an opportunity to conduct coordinated military action against Iran.
Israeli officials continue to monitor U.S. decisions closely, acknowledging that uncertainty currently outweighs certainty and warning that the growing number of unanswered questions may itself point to an increasing risk of escalation.
A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News that while coordination with Washington remains constant, President Trump remains difficult to predict.
“We are in continuous dialogue with the Americans, but one thing is clear: Trump is unpredictable. Right now it appears that the decision to increase the intensity of the strikes against Iran will indeed be carried out,” the official said.
At the same time, Israeli intelligence believes Trump’s envoys—particularly Steve Witkoff—are still attempting to halt the cycle of escalation and revive negotiations aimed at reaching a diplomatic agreement.
Israeli leaders were also informed in recent hours that Iran does not currently appear interested in launching missiles at Israel, recognizing the consequences such an attack would bring. However, officials cautioned that the situation could change quickly as Iranian military activity continues moving closer to Israel.
“We are preparing for every possible scenario and developing both immediate operational options and long-term strategic plans,” one senior Israeli official said. “If the Americans decide to escalate or involve Israel, or if the Iranians take an unexpected and reckless step against us, we will be ready.”
{Matzav.com}
