In this morning's cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu described a tense call with President Trump, saying Trump asked 'did anyone die? No? Then don't respond,' a premise Netanyahu rejected. The IDF Chief of Staff stated Israel is prepared for a significant independent strike wave against Iran, and Military Intelligence assessed that Hezbollah has been weakened and is on the defensive.
The morning cabinet meeting on Monday produced a series of on-record disclosures published by Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynet, providing a rare window into the highest-level Israeli security deliberation. Prime Minister Netanyahu recounted his recent tense phone call with President Trump, telling ministers that Trump asked whether any Israelis had been killed in the Iranian missile barrage. When Netanyahu replied that no one had died, Trump advised against a military response — an equation Netanyahu said he rejected: 'I am not willing to accept that only if someone is killed do I respond'. Netanyahu also clarified that Israel's strikes in Beirut's Dahieh district and in Iran were actions Israel briefed Washington on before executing, not operations that required approval.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told the cabinet that Israel could have struck more targets in Iran, and that the military is prepared for a 'significant attack wave' in a sustained campaign against Iran independently, though he noted that a partnership with the U.S. remains preferable. He cautioned that one of Israel's objectives is preserving the alliance. Military Intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Shlomi Binder assessed a strategic reversal: Hezbollah was built to defend Iran, but now Israel is striking Hezbollah and Iran is not defending it — revealing Hezbollah's weakness and a posture of flight rather than confrontation. The head of the IDF's Research Division noted that the Iranian attack on Israel was deliberately limited in scope from Tehran's perspective.
The disclosures follow a week of high diplomatic and military tension, with the U.S. President publicly urging restraint after Israeli strikes on Beirut and inside Iran, while emphasizing the progress of a pending diplomatic deal with Tehran. As The Zioneer reported, Trump has described the Israeli strike on Iran as 'unnecessary' and has sought to de-escalate calls with Netanyahu. The cabinet statements confirm that Israeli defense establishment sees a potential independent campaign against Iran as feasible, while the political echelon remains engaged in a high-stakes dialogue with the White House over the scope and timing of further action.
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- DevelopingTrump warned Netanyahu he may be left alone against Iran if strikes escalate to wider war
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