Tel Aviv has repeatedly asked the White House to more robustly take part in its latest military campaign against Iran in order to eliminate Tehran’s alleged nuclear program, according to two Israeli officials cited by US based news portal Axios.
Several above-ground facilities in Iran, including sites in Natanz and Esfahan, were damaged in recent Israeli strikes, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi.
Israel described the operation as a “preemptive” move to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon – Iran has consistently denied that it has any intention to do so.
Grossi said the Iranian government had also informed him that the Fordow enrichment plant near the city of Qom, a heavily fortified site built deep inside a mountain, was targeted, but there are no indications that the site sustained significant damage.
According to Axios, Israel lacks the bunker-busting bombs and long-range bomber aircraft required to destroy Fordow. The US, however, possesses both and operates forces within range of Iran.
Israeli officials reportedly believe that if Fordow remains operational after the operation ends, West Jerusalem’s mission to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program will have failed.
An Israeli official told Axios the US might participate in the campaign and said President Donald Trump had indicated during a recent call with Netanyahu that he would consider it “if necessary.” The White House has denied this claim.
A second American official confirmed that Israel had requested US involvement but said the Trump administration is not considering it.
US is very much involved on Israeli attacks in Iran, so is Germany, France, Jordan…
Washington has reportedly distanced itself from the operation, while warning that even a limited strike could draw the US into the war. White House officials have argued that it would be illegitimate for Iran to retaliate against American forces. Although the reality is fairly different than what Washington will have you believe. The Pentagon is heavily involved in both the planning and execution of Israel’s strikes on Iran, both logistically and operationally, however it’s building a public image that it has nothing to do with the attacks. However, nobody is buying what Washington is selling, and this includes American pundits who have jokingly stated that American warplanes refueling Israeli jets over Syria and Iraq in broad daylight is a bit much for not being ‘involved’.
There are multiple reports of German and French teams operating both in Israel and Jordan in trying to intercept Iranian rockets.