As US President Donald Trump is negotiating with Iran a new nuclear deal, Israel, American ally in the Middle East, is reportedly considering taking military action against Iran in the coming days without Washington support, US media reported on Thursday citing sources.
The proposed deal between US and Iran, which appears closer to a framework, is reportedly unacceptable to Netanyahu’s government, therefore, Israel is said to have become more serious about a unilateral strike on Tehran, NBS News reported quoting Capitol Hill sources.
Meanwhile, Trump admin started to withdraw some US forces from region and directed all embassies within striking distance of Iranian missiles, aircraft and other assets to send cables with assessments about danger and about measures to mitigate risks to Americans and U.S. infrastructure, the report said.
Israel, which depends on intelligence and other forms of direct and logistical support from the United States, may be positioned to take unilateral action against Tehran, according to a source familiar with the matter.
However, the sources and officials consulted were not aware of any planned U.S. involvement in such an operation. While the United States could potentially provide assistance through aerial refueling or intelligence sharing, rather than direct military engagement, there were no indications at this stage that such support had been planned.
General Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), was scheduled to testify before Congress on Thursday, but the hearing was abruptly postponed late Wednesday without official explanation. A source familiar with the matter said that General Kurilla needed to focus on the evolving situation.
