US-funded outlet Alhurra cited an Israeli source saying Arab nations along the Persian Gulf have urged Israel to deliver a decisive blow to Iran even as Tehran continues efforts to engage with those states to de-escalate tensions with Israel.
"Gulf countries have sent messages to Israel stressing the need for its response to Iran to be strict and clear," Alhurra cited the source as saying.
"Israel is receiving contacts and requests from Gulf countries to inform it in advance of the expected response so that it can take precautions in the event of a counterattack," the channel added.
Israel says it will retaliate for an Oct. 1 attack in which Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at the Jewish state. Iran has publicly said it is not seeking full-scale war but officials have emphasized the country is prepared for a conflict should one arise.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sought to shore up support among regional nations to mitigate Israel’s actions during a recent tour of the Middle East which included visits to Saudi Arabia and Iraq .
Iran also conveyed to its Arab and regional neighbors that they would face retaliation if US or Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic used their territory or air space, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of orchestrating an assassination attempt after three drones targeted one of his residences. Neither Netanyahu nor his wife were at home during the incident.
The attempted strike comes just days after the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a precision operation in southern Gaza.
“The attempt by Iran’s proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake,” Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday night, adding Israel would “eliminate the terrorists and those who dispatch them”.
Alhurra’s interviews cited former Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus saying the assassination attempt on Netanyahu could represent a miscalculation by Iran by providing Israel with a justification for a broader response.
The news outlet further reports that Israel, while coordinating with regional militaries under US Central Command (CENTCOM), sees its response to Iranian missile attacks as a strategic opportunity to assert its military power in the Middle East and counter the threats from Tehran, both direct and indirect.
Israeli sources, including Conricus, emphasized to Alhurra that Israel's goal is not just to shift the balance of power between Israel and Iran, but to reshape the broader dynamics of the Middle East.
The report suggests that Arab nations on the Persian Gulf also view this moment as an opportunity to weaken Tehran through support of Israel’s military actions.
While in Germany last Friday, US President Joe Biden told reporters that he has a good understanding of how and when Israel plans to respond to Iran’s missile attack but declined to provide further details.
Although the timing and specifics of Israel's retaliation remain unclear, sources informed CNN last week that it is expected to take place before the US presidential election on November 5.
Previous reports from multiple news outlets indicate that Israel has assured the US it will refrain from targeting nuclear or energy infrastructure, though other reports suggest that all options are still on the table.
