Did Israel drag the US into a war with Iran, or was it just the right moment?

The inside story

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The United States made a bold decision: joining Israel in bombing Iran's nuclear sites. However, was the action motivated by timing? Or was it forced by Benjamin Netanyahu's actions?

Getting convinced

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

According to The New York Times, President Trump was convinced that striking Iran was the best option because he was so impressed by Israel's attack. The President had dissuaded Netanyahu for months, but was easily convinced to join him.

Deception

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

According to the accounts of Trump's close allies and officials, the President was convinced of the attack a week before. His mixed declarations were part of a ruse to hide it, for military and political reasons, as his party is widely divided.

A monumental gamble

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

Experts told the newspaper that the attacks were a monumental gamble. If they work and destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities, it would be a significant win for the President. Still, it could backfire if it doesn't destroy the program or if it becomes a wider regional conflict.

Out of his hands

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

It could depend far more on factors that the US does not control: the size of Iran's response and Israel's next steps. President Trump has insisted that killing Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would be a mistake. Still, Netanyahu's government has suggested it more than once.

Chainging course

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The President stopped an Israeli plot to kill Khamenei the week after their first strikes. However, the Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said peace could only come after he died. The country already convinced Trump to change course once.

Frenemies

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

Netanyahu had insisted on bombing Iran for weeks, while Trump was reluctant to leave the diplomatic path. The Wall Street Journal said he asked Israel to wait just two days before the attack.

A flip in the script

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

With the attack, Netanyahu forced Trump to take a following position instead of leading in the region. It was a flip in the script after weeks of Trump's actions soured the relationship.

A Middle East tour

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

In May, the president went on his first international tour to the Middle East and skipped a visit to Israel. Netanyahu, who regarded President Trump as Israel's biggest ally, was sidelined and surprised by some of his moves.

February meeting

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

When Trump took office, Netanyahu was one of the first international leaders to visit the new president at the White House. They seemed to be in sync, the Israeli with a broad smile watching his ally speak of the future of Gaza.

Attacks on Houthi rebels

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The course seemed to continue naturally when the Trump Administration decided to start bombing Houthi rebel targets in Yemen, as the group increased its attacks on Red Sea vessels and Israel.

Incidents and disagreements

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

However, things took a turn by April, when Netanyahu revisited the White House. President Trump's moves in the Middle East were less aligned with the prime minister's interests.

A 24-hour notice

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

According to Reuters, Netanyahu learned about President Trump's decision to start nuclear negotiations with Iran 24 hours ahead of the meeting, where he planned to ask for support for an attack.

Iran negotiations

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The news agency said the Israeli prime minister hoped to get US backing to execute attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, but instead got hit with the news of the negotiations.

Uncomfortable meeting

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The uncomfortable meeting came only days after the US slapped Israel with a 17% tariff despite the country vowing to eliminate duties on American products, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Houthi agreement

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

Shortly after that, the US announced it had reached a deal with Houthi rebels to stop bombings in exchange for them stopping any attacks on US ships in the Red Sea.

Intensified tensions

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The agreement was announced closely after the Iran-backed militia struck Israel with a missile. As The New York Times reports, Netanyahu remarked on X that his country would defend itself even without help.

The US has no obligation

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The polemic escalated further, the newspaper said, when the US ambassador to Israel told local media, about the deal: "the United States isn't required to get permission from Israel."

America First policies

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

The Wall Street Journal said many in Israel expected a similar approach to Trump's first administration, but underestimated the strength of the 'America First' movement inside his government.

Betraying his base

The inside story, Getting convinced, Deception, A monumental gamble, Out of his hands, Chainging course, Frenemies, A flip in the script, A Middle East tour, February meeting, Attacks on Houthi rebels, Incidents and disagreements, A 24-hour notice, Iran negotiations, Uncomfortable meeting, Houthi agreement, Intensified tensions, The US has no obligation, America First policies, Betraying his base

Now it seems it was the ‘America First’ movement who underestimated Israel’s capacity to lure the White House into a foreign conflict, even after Trump promised to “measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end and, perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”

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