American officials reportedly urged caution, warning that a miscalculation could trigger a rapid regional escalation.
By Hezy Laing
Israel reportedly came close to launching two separate military strikes on Iran in recent weeks, according to regional security sources and media outlets tracking the escalating tensions between the two countries.
The incidents occurred amid heightened Iranian military activity and growing concern within Israel’s defense establishment that Tehran was preparing actions that could threaten Israeli interests.
According to the reports, Israeli intelligence detected unusual Iranian force movements, including elevated alert levels among units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
These developments prompted Israel’s political and military leadership to convene emergency consultations to assess whether Iran was preparing an offensive move or attempting to deter Israeli operations elsewhere in the region.
In both cases, Israel ultimately held back from executing the strikes, following updated intelligence assessments and intensive coordination with the United States.
American officials reportedly urged caution, warning that a miscalculation could trigger a rapid regional escalation.
The near‑operations underscore the volatile state of Israel–Iran relations, with both sides interpreting the other’s actions as potentially aggressive.
Analysts note that the risk of unintended conflict remains high, especially as Iran continues expanding its regional military footprint and Israel maintains its policy of preventing Iranian entrenchment.
