Israel Assesses Iran Avoids Direct Attacks to Prevent Escalation Amid Rising Tensions

Despite escalating tensions between the US and Iran, Israeli officials, including in a discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, assess that Iran currently does not intend to launch attacks against Israeli targets or civilians. Israeli sources believe Tehran understands that such strikes would escalate the conflict to a much higher intensity and risk spiraling out of control. A senior Israeli official expressed hope that this assessment proves wrong, saying, "We all hope this evaluation is mistaken and that Iran will make the error." The official added that the US is aware of Israel's objectives in Iran and that Israel is not currently involved in the conflict, but could become so if either the US or Iran draws it in.

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked US HIMARS ground-to-ground missile launchers in Kuwait using drones, claiming the destruction of missile infrastructure prepared for strikes against Iran. Additionally, the pro-Iranian Saberin news agency reported drone attacks on headquarters of Kurdish-Iranian parties in the As-Sulaymaniyah province of northern Iraq.

These developments come amid a broader regional escalation, but Israeli assessments suggest Tehran is cautious about provoking a direct confrontation with Israel at this stage. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further escalation depending on actions by the US, Iran, or their proxies.