Israel began planning a potential military strike on Iran in December, following the collapse of the Syrian government and the weakening of Hezbollah’s presence in the region, according to a report by The New York Times.
The report states that the changing geopolitical landscape effectively opened the skies for Israeli operations. In February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a detailed dossier on Iran's nuclear program to then-U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Trump reportedly took a more moderate stance but agreed to provide undisclosed intelligence support for a possible strike.
The report further reveals that Trump claimed credit for the operation and hinted at direct U.S. involvement—making a diplomatic resolution increasingly unlikely.