The United States has delivered a clear message to Israel not to strike Iran at this stage, a senior Israeli official tells Kan News. Washington intends to conduct any strikes against Iran alone, in response to the helicopter downing and to advance negotiations. Israel is told not to intervene now, but the IDF remains on high alert in case the US later gives a green light or Iran fires toward Israel.
A senior Israeli official told Kan News on Saturday evening that the United States has conveyed an unambiguous message to Israel: do not strike Iran at this stage. According to the official, Washington insists that any retaliatory strikes against Iran will be carried out by the US alone — in response to the downing of an American helicopter and as part of an effort to revive negotiations with Tehran. The message was described as a 'red light' for Israeli action.
However, the official added that if Iran fires toward Israel during the US strikes, or if Israel strikes Beirut, Israel would retaliate against Iran. The IDF is also preparing for the possibility that Washington will later give a 'green light,' reverting to a framework similar to the joint 'Roar of the Lion' operation. Israeli alert levels are at their highest, amid readiness for possible US strikes on Iran tonight and concerns over Iranian retaliation toward Israel and other regional states.
As The Zioneer has reported, the US has been conducting sustained strikes against Iranian air defense and command infrastructure under 'Operation Epic Fury.' Earlier reports indicated Washington had given Israel a green light for strategic strikes, a position that now appears to have shifted — at least temporarily — to a US-only posture.
What remains unclear is whether tonight's expected US strikes will trigger an Iranian response that draws Israel in, or whether the diplomatic track can contain the escalation.
2 developments
- DevelopingUS reportedly gives Israel green light to strike targets in Iran
- DevelopingTrump sends tough messages to Iran, warns Tehran would bear blame for escalation
- DevelopingIran 'brings Trump's unclear messages down to reality,' analyst says after fresh US strikes
- DevelopingIran threatens stronger retaliation if Israel strikes, amid Trump call for talks
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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