Israel considered carrying out a strike on Iran in retaliation for last weekend’s unprecedented attack but then aborted the plan, AFP reports citing Israeli and US media reports.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that following discussions with US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu decided not to proceed with pre-arranged plans for retaliatory strikes on Iran in the event of an attack.
“Diplomatic sensitivities came into play,” a senior Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity told Kan, adding that there would be a response, but that it would be different from what was initially planned.
Citing three unnamed Israeli sources, ABC News reported: “Israel prepared for and then aborted retaliatory strikes against Iran on at least two nights this past week.”
Among the range of possible reactions considered by the Israeli war cabinet were options to attack Iranian proxies elsewhere in the region or to conduct a cyberattack, the sources told ABC.
At a cabinet meeting on Monday, Israeli officials considered giving the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) permission for a strike against Iran, but “for operational reasons” decided not to go ahead with it, two unnamed Israeli officials told US news outlet Axios.
