Report: Israel Leaving U.S. ‘Largely in the Dark’ on Operations in Iran

Israel has ramped up its covert attacks in Iran and is largely leaving the United States out of the loop, CNN reported Tuesday, quoting several current and former Washington officials.

Sources quoted in the report said that Israel rarely informs the U.S. of its operations beforehand and expressed concern that although the possibility of a conventional war breaking out between Iran and Israel is unlikely, chances for a miscalculation to spiral out of control are higher than usual.

“The more the Israelis push – especially if the Iranians decide JCPOA is dead – the more the Iranians are going to push back,” Jonathan Panikoff, former deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East at the National Intelligence Council, said, referring to the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Officials are also concerned about what appeared to be the Iranian government beginning to link the recent attacks attributed to Israel to the survival of its regime.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday about the upcoming visit by President Joe Biden to Israel. The visit aims to reinforce the President’s connection to Israel, strengthen the Jewish State’s security, and improve regional ties.

Lapid also briefed Blinken on his upcoming trip to Turkey and joint anti-terror measures with Ankara to prevent Iranian agents from hurting Israeli tourists in the country.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also spoke to Blinken and assured him that he would support Lapid as interim prime minister, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday.

Blinken thanked Bennett for his actions to strengthen U.S.–Israel relations during his year in office and informed him he would continue to cooperate with him on matters concerning Iran.

Blinken “underscored our respect for democratic processes and reiterated our unwavering commitment to the strong U.S.-Israel strategic relationship,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

“Blinken emphasized our continuing close coordination on regional and global issues,” he said.

Price earlier told reporters: “The strength of our relationship does not depend on who sits in the Oval Office. It doesn’t depend on who sits in the prime minister’s chair in Israel.”