#IsraelIranConflict
The early hours of the morning in the Middle East woke up to a new wave of tension. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s sudden and unexpected airstrike against Iran shook regional balances and marked a significant turning point in US-Israel relations. Behind this development lies a diplomatic tension between US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu that started months ago and has been escalating steadily.
Trump had openly warned Netanyahu months earlier not to carry out a military operation against Iran. He clearly stated from the beginning that any attack on Iran would seriously jeopardize regional stability and that the US would not support such an operation. However, Netanyahu believes that the military option against Iran’s nuclear activities is inevitable and was determined to proceed with his plans regardless of Trump’s warnings.
Despite Trump’s cautions, Israel’s determined stance caused serious reverberations within the US as well. Unexpected incidents erupting in Los Angeles were interpreted by some experts as an Israeli move to exert pressure on American domestic politics. These developments forced the Trump administration to reconsider its diplomatic approach.
After this tense process, Netanyahu launched the “Rising Lion Operation” at 3:00 AM on June 13, targeting specific sites in Iran. In a statement immediately following the operation, Netanyahu said:
"Just now, Israel has launched the Rising Lion Operation, a targeted military operation aimed at repelling the Iranian threat that endangers Israel’s existence. This operation will continue for the number of days necessary to completely eliminate this threat."
With these developments, it became a matter of curiosity how Trump, a leader known for his ego, would respond to Netanyahu. The diplomatic tension between the two leaders is also shaped by personal power struggles.
