Israel Braces for Possible Iranian Strike as U.S. Seeks Quiet Deal

Israeli officials were told late Saturday that Iran could fire at Israel within hours, possibly before midnight, while the security and political cabinet met in a secret location in Jerusalem because of tighter security needs and the risk of escalation. The meeting was moved from its planned venue. At the same time, the government was watching U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest messages, which Israeli officials said were aimed at stopping Iran from carrying out its threat.

According to a report by Yaron Avraham on Channel 12, Israel believes Trump may soon announce that he is giving Iran some kind of concession in exchange for restraint after the strike in Beirut’s Dahieh district. The exact offer is unknown, but Israeli officials said that is the backstage effort now under way. American officials also told Jerusalem that Israel must not take any step that could endanger the arrangement, meaning that even if Iran ultimately fires, Israel is expected to avoid retaliation.

A close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Trump’s post was received with shock. One senior Israeli official said, “Trump’s message is a slap in the face. The prohibition has gone up a level, the expectation that we will not strike on Lebanese soil does not fit the narrative of a strategic ally.” In an earlier conversation, Trump reportedly suggested that Israel physically withdraw from southern Lebanon as part of broader understandings with Iran, but Netanyahu rejected the idea outright, saying it did not serve the shared interests of Israel and the United States.

The main concern in Jerusalem and the defense establishment is that Israel’s freedom of action in Lebanon will shrink, possibly as part of a broader deal in which Trump would seek to end all military activity across Lebanon, not only in Beirut. Separately, Channel 13 reported that Israel is preparing for possible Iranian missile fire in the coming hours. The Home Front Command has already tightened instructions based on lessons from the previous round, while Revolutionary Guard missile units have been placed on alert and the United States is working to prevent an Iranian response. Ministers in the cabinet are also criticizing Washington, saying the message has “normalized” fire at a sovereign state and that “the era of restraint is over.”