Tel Aviv:The head of Israel's Mossad, Roman Gofman, expressed support for a swift military operation against Iran proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In contrast, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir opposed the plan, as reported by Israeli media on the eve of significant general elections in the country.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the operation, backed by Netanyahu, faced resistance from Zamir, who had not been briefed on it beforehand. The discussions about the operation, which could have potentially rekindled conflict with Iran, highlighted differing opinions within Israel's security establishment. The proposal, however, was not intended to restart a large-scale offensive against Iran.
Israeli opposition figures have accused Netanyahu of using the potential conflict with Iran to sway election outcomes. An Israeli military official clarified that any major offensive would require coordination with the United States and a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump, rather than being an Israeli unilateral action.
Israeli and foreign officials reportedly see a large-scale attack on Iran as unavoidable, due to Tehran's nuclear advancements. The timing of such an operation would hinge on intelligence and operational factors to prevent Iran from reaching a critical stage in developing a nuclear weapon. Diplomatic sources indicated that President Trump prefers to delay any military action until after the U.S. midterm elections, considering the potential impact on oil prices and election results.
Preparations between Israel and the U.S. for a plan to destabilize Iran's government were also mentioned. Meanwhile, reports of an unprecedented confrontation between Netanyahu and Zamir over the military directive surfaced, amid concerns that the Iranian issue might be used for political leverage ahead of the Knesset elections.
Netanyahu, who has centered his campaign on security concerns, shared an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion in Tel Aviv, stressing the threat posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions and advocating for a resolution during President Trump’s term. Under Netanyahu's leadership since 2022, his government has been described as the most extreme in Israel's history.
Tensions escalated further with Israel's large-scale attack on Iran in June 2025, targeting nuclear and military sites, leading to Tehran’s missile and drone retaliation, and subsequent ceasefire. In February, the U.S. and Israel initiated a war against Iran, with Tehran responding against Israel and U.S. facilities in the region. Negotiations have since faltered over the critical Strait of Hormuz navigation issues.