Israel is preparing for the possibility of carrying out unilateral military strikes against Iran if the United States reaches an agreement with Tehran and moves to end the ongoing war
Israel is preparing for the possibility of carrying out unilateral military strikes against Iran if the United States reaches an agreement with Tehran and moves to end the ongoing war, Israeli media reported Saturday.
According to Israel’s Channel 13, the Israeli military is continuing to prepare for potential independent operations against Iran, keeping the option open even if Washington decides to step back from direct military action.
The preparations come as the Trump administration appears to be looking for a diplomatic way to bring the conflict to an end.
The report comes amid growing concerns within the US administration over the risks of further escalation. US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has reportedly warned senior officials that continued military action could create new risks and that President Donald Trump’s objectives in Iran may be difficult to achieve through airstrikes alone.
US weighs diplomatic exit from Iran war
CNN previously reported that Caine had been looking for an “off-ramp” from the conflict. He has reportedly discussed the war and possible military options with senior Trump administration officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.
According to the report, Caine has raised concerns that further escalation could produce unintended consequences. He has also argued that airpower alone may not be enough to achieve the administration’s objectives in Iran.
More from WorldThe White House has pushed back against suggestions that there is serious internal disagreement over the military campaign. A White House official described Caine as “an incredible asset” to Trump’s national security team and pointed to the success of previous US operations.
Vance, meanwhile, indicated that Tehran was also interested in ending the fighting, although he said Iran would have to meet Washington’s demands.
Israel keeps independent military option open
Against this backdrop, Channel 13 reported that the Israeli military is continuing preparations for possible unilateral action against Iran. The preparations could allow Israel to act even if the US reaches a diplomatic agreement with Tehran and ends its own military operations.
Israeli officials have repeatedly said they will not accept Iran rebuilding or expanding capabilities that Tel Aviv considers a major security threat, particularly its ballistic missile programme and nuclear-related infrastructure.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has previously instructed the military to prepare for a possible “blue-and-white” operation, a reference to an independent Israeli military campaign. Katz has also warned that any Iranian missile attack on Israel would be met with a strong response.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has similarly discussed the possibility of Israel confronting Iran without full US backing, while stressing that Israel would prefer to avoid such a situation.
US military stocks add pressure
The reported Israeli preparations also come as the US faces questions over its ability to sustain a prolonged high-intensity campaign.
Reuters and other media reports have highlighted the heavy use of US precision long-range missiles and air-defence interceptors during months of fighting. Concerns over weapons stocks could become an additional factor as Washington weighs whether to continue or reduce military operations.
For Israel, however, the possibility of a US diplomatic exit does not necessarily remove the perceived threat from Iran. The latest report suggests that Tel Aviv wants to retain the ability to act independently if it believes Iranian missile or nuclear capabilities pose an immediate danger.
The development points to a potentially complicated next phase of the conflict: Washington could pursue negotiations with Tehran while Israel continues preparing for military action of its own.