Israel urges US escalation against Iran, possible ground invasion
Israel has made clear it will not deploy ground forces to Iran, but would strongly support US military action if the Trump administration chooses to proceed.
TEL AVIV — Fearing that Washington may enter negotiations with Iran before its military capabilities are fully dismantled, Israel is now pressing the Trump administration to pursue a short, high-intensity operation that could include ground forces.
As the war with Iran enters its fifth week, Israeli officials say US President Donald Trump’s conflicting statements about ending or escalating the war reflect his indecision about how to proceed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the war was "beyond the halfway point," but "in terms of missions, not necessarily in terms of time.” In an interview with Newsmax on Monday, he also urged Trump to look beyond indications that a majority of Americans oppose the war. “I'm not saying politicians should ignore polls; everybody looks at them. But if this is the only thing that decides your course of action, you're not a leader, you're a follower," Netanyahu said.
Ground invasion vs diplomacy
