US President Donald Trump’s administration does not want Israel to become directly involved in renewed fighting with Iran, fearing that its participation could cause Washington to lose control of the conflict’s direction, CNN reported, citing two Israeli sources.
The report came after a sharp escalation between the United States and Iran threatened to undermine a fragile ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military was prepared to resume operations against Iran, even if Israel had to act alone.
“The IDF is on high alert and is ready to resume the campaign, restore air superiority, and carry out an independent Israeli strike against Iran to eliminate the threats, even if this is required for a third time,” Katz said during a graduation ceremony for new pilots.
“If we have to return, we will return with greater force,” he added.
The comments came as diplomatic efforts intensified to prevent a wider conflict. A diplomatic source familiar with the matter said Friday that Qatari negotiators had travelled to Iran to meet officials there in an effort to calm tensions and create conditions for the resumption of US-Iran talks.
CNN quoted the source as saying the visit had been planned in coordination with the United States.
Fighting appeared to ease on Friday after a series of escalating strikes threatened to derail the US-Iran arrangement. Mediators are now trying to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.
A US official earlier told CNN that the military had been carrying out limited strikes before pausing, in an attempt to avoid further escalation and leave room for diplomacy.