Middle East crisis live: Netanyahu says Israel acted alone in Iran gasfield strike and denies ‘dragging’ US into war - The Guardian

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel acted independently in striking an Iranian gasfield and rejected accusations that the operation was intended to pull the United States into a broader conflict. The statement came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the strike, which Israel characterized as a targeted response to Iranian actions. Netanyahu's denial of dragging the U.S. into the conflict addresses concerns from regional observers and international commentators about escalation risks in an already volatile area. The clarification is significant because Israeli military operations in Iran have historically risked triggering broader regional confrontation involving U.S. forces positioned throughout the Middle East. The episode underscores the delicate balance Israel maintains between defending its interests and managing the geopolitical fallout of strikes on Iranian territory.