Israel Faces Pressure After Iran Attack, Weighs Response Israel is facing a difficult decision on how to respond after a weekend attack by Iran that targeted its territory. The Israeli military says Iran fired over 300 drones and missiles, 99% of which were intercepted as part of Israel's "Iron Shield" operation, with help from the U.S., U.K., France, and Jordan.
The attack came in retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike that killed Iranian commanders in Syria earlier this month. Now, Israel's war cabinet is deliberating on its next steps, urged by international leaders to show restraint while also under domestic pressure to take tough action.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long taken a hard line against Iran, is facing competing pressures. Some in his cabinet are pushing for a wider campaign against Iran's proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon. But U.S. officials have indicated Washington does not intend to participate in an Israeli offensive against Iran.
Meanwhile, former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert suggested Israel may opt for a more "restrained and reserved" response, given the limited damage from the Iranian attack. Olmert said President Biden wants to "contain the situation" and not allow it to escalate further.
Global leaders have called for calm and restraint from both sides, wary of the conflict spilling over into a broader regional confrontation. Israel must now weigh its options carefully, balancing domestic political pressures with the reality of the military and diplomatic landscape.