The U.S. has since withdrawn the request after Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir warned that renewed fighting could force the postponement of Israel's October 27 elections. U.S. officials had previously believed that a unilateral Israeli strike might benefit Benjamin Netanyahu's political prospects before the vote while insulating the American administration from direct military confrontation.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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US Pressed Israel to Attack Iran Alone Before November Midterms
War11 days ago
Washington sought to transfer the political burden of military operations against Iran to Israel during bilateral talks over the last 14 days, Maariv reports. U.S. officials requested that Israel conduct strikes independently to avoid risks to Donald Trump's standing ahead of the November midterm elections. The reported pressure came as intelligence indicated that Iran is rapidly rebuilding its ballistic missile and drone production facilities despite previous U.S. and Israeli attacks.
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