Israel's Strategic Silence: Navigating Potential US Actions Against Iran

Sun Feb 01 2026 05:42:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As speculation rises over a possible US military response to Iran, Israel's leaders maintain a cautious silence, holding back from publicly endorsing confrontation. Behind the scenes, discussions and strategic calculations unfold as Prime Minister Netanyahu considers the precarious opportunity for regime change in Iran.

With a potential US attack on Iran looming, Israeli leadership remains unusually quiet, signaling a complex strategic position. Analysts suggest that Netanyahu sees this moment as ripe for encouraging a regime change in Iran, although there are concerns about the risks involved. While Israeli public opinion leans towards military action, many question the long-term implications of such a strategy amidst regional instability and the potential for retaliatory strikes.

Amid the din of global speculation over US military build-up in the Middle East, Israel's leaders have remained unusually silent.

Aside from some remarks in support of Iran's anti-government protests this month, Israel's prime minister has had little to say publicly about his superpower ally taking on his biggest enemy. His government has remained equally silent.

It shows you the importance Netanyahu puts on this moment, said Danny Citrinowicz, who served for 25 years in Israel's Defense Intelligence, and is now senior Iran researcher at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies.

For Netanyahu, being in this position where the US has so many forces in the Gulf, being so close to Trump attacking Iran, this is - for him - a golden moment in time that he cannot forgo.

Asaf Cohen, a former deputy director of Israel's signals intelligence unit, notes there's strategy in Israel's silence too. The [Israeli] leadership believes we should allow the Americans to lead the way this time, because they are stronger, have more capabilities, and have much more legitimacy in the world.

Benjamin Netanyahu has long seen Iran as the key threat facing Israel, and the biggest source of instability in the Middle East. His public silence does not signal a lack of private discussion with his key US ally.

This week, Israel's military intelligence chief met with US intelligence agencies to discuss possible targets in Iran.

Netanyahu reportedly asked Trump to hold back in his response to Iran earlier this month, believing the US planned attack to be insufficient. He has previously encouraged Iranians to stand up against their regime, seeking an opening for regime change that would allow them to eliminate missile threats to Israel and quell Iran's proxy militias.

Despite division among Israeli lawmakers on the appropriate course of action, public opinion largely supports military action against Iran, driven by a desire for decisive actions against perceived threats.

Ultimately, as tensions rise and the potential for military engagement looms, the situation presents both opportunities and immense risks, questioning whether the perceived benefits of a regime change in Iran could outweigh the costs of military action.