Israel prefers broad US strike on Iran over targeted action – report

Israel prefers that the United States prepare for a broader strike on Iran at a later stage, rather than a limited, pinpoint operation, Kan News reported Saturday evening. CNN also reported that Israel requested a delay to strengthen its defenses against a possible Iranian response.

Israeli officials assess that U.S. President Donald Trump may still carry out a military attack against Iran, with the decision dependent on dialogue with the Iranians and on the operational objectives of the action.

However, defense officials believe that if Trump’s goal is the complete overthrow of the Iranian regime, the current U.S. force posture in the region would be insufficient for an operation of that magnitude.

Tensions peaked last Wednesday, the day Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call. According to various reports, there was a genuine assessment in Iran that a U.S. strike was imminent that day. In light of the warning signs, senior IDF officials held a series of discussions with their American military counterparts several days earlier to examine the implications of a potential attack.

Although the strike was ultimately called off, an U.S. official told Kan News that the issue remains on the table, and another foreign official confirmed that the president has not removed the military option from consideration.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the military tension, Israeli intelligence community data revealed the scale of the brutal crackdown on protests in Iran. According to the figures, around 3,000 people have been killed in the unrest, including hundreds of regime personnel. In Tehran alone, approximately 1,000 fatalities were recorded.

The data further indicates that about 30,000 injured individuals are hospitalized across Iran, most of whom are not receiving adequate medical treatment. The peak of the protests occurred last Thursday, when more than one million Iranians took to the streets, though in recent days a clear decline in the scope of demonstrations has been observed.