For all the talk of the threat Iran posed to Israel and the wider region, Netanyahu never pulled the trigger on a major military operation. Instead, he authorized sporadic high-risk, high-reward operations from Israel’s Mossad spy agency, including the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists and the stealing of the country’s nuclear archive.

The United States’ overnight attack could cause further escalation. To Israelis, it is already seen as a victory for Israel, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli air defenses are receiving support from American pilots, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, revealing one of the most specific details of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict as President Donald Trump will decide whether to strike or negotiate with Iran within the next two weeks.