The United States reportedly pressed Israel to launch a military operation against Iran without direct American involvement during discussions between the two countries over the past two weeks, according to a report published by Maariv on Saturday.
The reported proposal would have placed Israel at the forefront of any military action, leaving the Israeli government to bear the immediate political consequences while Washington avoided the potential domestic fallout of launching its own strike before the US midterm elections.
The claims add a new dimension to recent reports that US President Donald Trump has been considering renewed military action against Iran.
Washington Feared Political Fallout From Direct Military Action
According to the sources cited by Maariv, American officials believed a US-led operation against Iran ahead of the midterm elections could carry negative political consequences for Trump.
The reported reasoning was that Washington could avoid some of those risks by allowing Israel to conduct the operation independently, rather than having the United States take direct responsibility for the attack.
The proposal, as described in the report, would have effectively placed the decision and its immediate consequences on Israel while limiting Washington’s direct role.
The report did not establish whether the alleged strategy reflected a settled US policy or the position of officials involved in the discussions.
US Officials Believed Israel Might Prefer Action Before Its Elections
The reported discussions also involved the American assessment that Israel could be interested in striking Iran before its own elections.
According to the sources, Washington believed the timing might suit Israeli political considerations, while a direct American military operation could create complications for Trump ahead of the US midterms.
However, the report did not clarify whether Israeli leaders agreed with that assessment or whether the timing of any potential strike had been settled.
Washington Has Reportedly Withdrawn Its Demand—for Now
The United States has since stepped back from the reported demand for Israel to carry out a solo operation against Iran, at least for the time being, the sources told Maariv.
The change suggests that the initial proposal may no longer be an active requirement in the discussions, although the report provided no detailed explanation for Washington’s decision to back away.
It also remains unclear whether the two governments are considering alternative arrangements or whether discussions about possible military action have changed more broadly.
Netanyahu’s Position Remains Unclear Amid Security Meetings
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to the reported American proposal remains uncertain, according to the sources.
Netanyahu’s schedule over the past week was described as heavily focused on security matters. He also held several meetings and made visits characterised as sensitive, although the report did not establish a direct connection between those activities and the discussions over Iran.
No definitive conclusion could therefore be drawn from the reported schedule about whether Netanyahu supported, rejected or was still considering the proposal.
Reports of Possible Renewed Strikes Against Iran Continue
The latest claims follow earlier reports that Trump was considering resuming military strikes against Iran.
The Maariv report introduces a different possibility: that Washington initially sought to achieve its objectives through an Israeli operation rather than a direct US attack.
For now, the reported withdrawal of that demand and the uncertainty surrounding Netanyahu’s position leave key questions unanswered about the countries’ next steps.
The report did not confirm that Israel had agreed to carry out a strike, that an operation had been authorised or that a final decision had been made regarding possible military action against Iran.
