Amid Iran Conflict, Israel Prepares for Potential Escalation

With its military forces operating on high alert, Israel is actively devising operational strategies for a potential escalation in the US-Iran conflict, according to three Israeli sources. However, the nation currently remains on the periphery and has no immediate intentions to intervene directly.

Israel has avoided direct participation in the recent surge of hostilities, which ignited in early July following Iranian aggressions in the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, Washington has not requested Israel's involvement in the campaign, the sources indicated. Should US President Donald Trump opt to significantly broaden the offensive and invite Israel to participate, one source asserted, “We will be ready.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assembled a select security council on Monday evening to analyze the most recent developments involving Iran, another source disclosed. The council evaluated various scenarios that might pull Israel into the conflict: entering at the behest of Washington, responding to an Iranian action that necessitates Israeli retaliation, or launching a preemptive strike to neutralize a perceived imminent danger.

Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Eyal Zamir, emphasized the military's preparedness on Sunday. “We are prepared for an immediate return to fighting and will act with great force against anyone who harms us,” he declared.

Despite the elevated state of alert, one source mentioned that Israel is satisfied with maintaining the current status quo: remaining unengaged while the US and Iran trade blows and stay distant from reaching a nuclear agreement, as economic strains on Tehran continue to mount.

“At the moment, Israel has no interest in joining the campaign,” stated Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who attended the security meeting, on Tuesday. During a conference address, Smotrich noted that the contained conflict between Iran and the US aligns with Israeli interests by amplifying the pressure on the Iranian government. “The best way to bring about the regime’s downfall is to crush it economically,” Smotrich argued, highlighting Iran’s skyrocketing inflation. “Therefore, the current situation works in our favor, and we have no interest in pushing ourselves into it.”

According to an Israeli assessment, recent US bombings targeting bridges within Iran severely damaged the nation's transportation and trade infrastructure, one source reported. “The Iranian economy is collapsing, and eventually this will weaken the regime further,” the source explained. Severe inflation and widespread poverty previously sparked massive anti-government protests in January, leading Israel to view the Iranian economy as one of the regime’s most significant weak points.

A high-ranking Israeli official informed CNN that the probability of the Hormuz attacks escalating and drawing Israel into the conflict has increased recently. However, the situation remains volatile, and Israel is closely monitoring regional mediation attempts aimed at de-escalating the crisis. “It’s dynamic,” the official observed, pointing out that certain individuals within Trump’s inner circle are advocating for diplomacy to avert a broader war.

If Israel were to eventually enter the conflict, a second Israeli official stated, it would aim to destroy high-value assets—particularly energy facilities and nuclear installations—targets Israel has desired to attack since the March campaign but was restrained from doing so by Trump.

“These are targets that could determine a decisive outcome for the war, but they also carry a major risk for the Gulf states and for oil prices, and up until now, the Americans have not wanted to take that risk,” he elaborated.

Amidst these developments, sources indicate that Netanyahu has been endeavoring to schedule a face-to-face meeting with Trump for several weeks, although no specific date has been confirmed. The two leaders have not met personally since February, prior to the Iran campaign, despite maintaining regular communication. One source suggested Netanyahu is contemplating a trip to the US next week to attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham, using the opportunity to potentially coordinate a meeting with Trump.