Israeli defense officials believe President Donald Trump could still prevent a major regional escalation, despite the unusually large buildup of American forces across the Middle East.
According to a report by Walla military correspondent Amir Bohbot, Israeli officials believe the planned American attack could be stopped if Iran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and transfers responsibility for securing the waterway to the United States.
During the past day, the Israel Defense Forces General Staff held a series of security assessments and coordinated with United States Central Command regarding the possibility of a wider confrontation with Iran.
The first scenario under consideration involves the completion of the American military deployment at all planned locations, alongside expanded defensive preparations throughout the region.
The second scenario involves Iran launching a preemptive attack before the expected American operation. Such an attack could target several countries in the region, including Israel, and force the IDF to respond with overwhelming force.
A senior Israeli security official familiar with the discussions told Walla that Israel would not necessarily become involved in every possible scenario.
“The Iranians understand that an attack on the Israeli home front would lead to an extremely powerful response against Iran, unlike anything seen in the past,” the official said.
Although Iran has claimed control over the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran has continued to disrupt the passage of commercial vessels through the area.
According to the report, a major backlog of ships has formed near the strait and is already affecting global energy prices.
Walla also reported that the IDF Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Air Force have expanded their list of potential targets across Iran.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly reviewed and personally approved a group of especially important targets in preparation for a possible escalation that could require an Israeli response far greater than previous military operations.
Israeli officials are also concerned that Hezbollah could exploit a confrontation with Iran and resume attacks against Israel.
That concern comes as the IDF withdraws forces from several locations where experimental deployments had been conducted.
