Israel Awaits Trump Approval to Join US Strikes on Iran Amid Ongoing Tensions
Israeli officials are seeking approval from US President Donald Trump to participate in military strikes against Iran, according to reports on Thursday. Currently, the conflict remains between the United States and Iran without Israeli involvement. Israeli sources told the New York Post that Israel is prepared to join future US attacks on Iran if requested, emphasizing their readiness to "flex muscles" again while hoping to avoid a return to times when civilians had to seek shelter.
The regional escalation continues despite mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan, with no breakthrough yet. Israeli assessments suggest both the US and Iran are aiming to end the current round of hostilities with the help of mediators, though both sides remain stubborn. US military forces announced they completed another round of strikes targeting 90 Iranian military sites along the coast, including air defense systems, missile storage, and naval capabilities, aiming to reduce Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian health officials reported 14 fatalities from the US strikes. A senior US official told Axios the escalation could last days or weeks depending on Iran's actions against commercial vessels. President Trump described the strikes as retaliation for attacks on ships and warned of harsher responses if they continue. A US official told CNN that the ceasefire with Iran has been temporarily broken. Israeli sources confirmed they were informed of planned US attacks overnight, maintaining their current state of readiness.
Summary: Israel is awaiting US President Trump's approval to join military strikes on Iran amid ongoing US-Iran tensions, with recent US attacks targeting Iranian military sites and no immediate Israeli involvement yet.
