Netanyahu holds security talks on potential US strike on Iran, Israeli media reports

2026-01-30 - 08:55

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a classified security meeting on Thursday with senior defense officials to discuss the escalating possibility of a U.S. military strike against Iran, Israeli media reported. The meeting, held in West Jerusalem, examined scenarios in which Washington could launch a limited attack targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, based on assessments that neither U.S. President Donald Trump nor Israeli officials believe such a strike would collapse the Iranian regime. Assessment of Iranian Retaliation and Israeli Preparedness Israeli officials reportedly anticipate that even a limited U.S. strike would likely provoke Iranian retaliation against Israel, to which Tel Aviv plans to respond forcefully. Concurrently, the Israeli military has intensified defensive and offensive preparations, according to state broadcaster KAN. The discussions followed a separate situational assessment earlier Thursday by senior Israeli military commanders in Tel Aviv, also focused on Iran. Increased US-Israel Military Coordination Amid the heightened tensions, a U.S. military vessel docked at the southern Israeli port of Eilat, a move described by an unnamed Israeli security official as aimed at strengthening military and security coordination between the two allies. Reports indicate that once all U.S. military assets en route to the region are in position, President Trump is expected to decide on whether to order strikes against Iran.