IDF sees no urgent need to strike Iran, Eisenkot was told at Netanyahu briefing, reports say

Israeli television reports on Wednesday evening offered differing accounts of a security briefing that caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave to Yashar party chief Gadi Eisenkot, including conflicting assessments of whether renewed war with Iran is a matter of urgency.

Ahead of the meeting, a source familiar with the briefing told Channel 12 that the intelligence presented would reshape how Eisenkot views Netanyahu's motives, with the caretaker prime minister apparently seeking to use the session to underline the need to soon resume fighting with Iran. "Once Eisenkot is exposed to the full intelligence picture, he will understand everything. After this meeting, he won't act the same way; he won't suspect the prime minister's motives," the source said.

But the security establishment has reportedly seen no developments in Iran that would justify an immediate operation, even as Netanyahu has repeatedly pushed for military action both before and after last month's election, a drive his critics have accused him of pursuing for political reasons.

Channel 13 news reported that the IDF position presented to Eisenkot during the briefing was that Israel faces no immediate urgency to strike Iran. Eisenkot was reportedly told, however, that Israel should join the fighting if US President Donald Trump renewed American attacks.

Channel 13 also reported that President Isaac Herzog mediated between Eisenkot and Netanyahu in order to secure the briefing, though the network said the President's Residence denied being involved.

The meeting came a day after Eisenkot publicly accused Netanyahu of refusing to grant him a security briefing and asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to intervene. He warned against non-urgent military moves that could have "devastating consequences" for Israeli democracy and urged Netanyahu not to place security chiefs in "a grave constitutional conflict." His statement did not mention Iran by name, but it followed reports that Netanyahu was seeking an operation against Tehran despite opposition from security chiefs. Other reports have alleged that the prime minister similarly sought action against Iran in the run-up to the October 27 election, when defense officials resisted over fears it could trigger an escalation and derail the vote.

Netanyahu's bloc lost its parliamentary majority in that election, and Herzog on Sunday tasked Eisenkot with forming a government after he received the most recommendations from lawmakers. Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister, retaining control over the government and security forces until a new government is formed.

In a separate report on Wednesday, the Kan public broadcaster said US Central Command recently alerted IDF representatives in the United States to prepare for a potential resumption of the conflict against Iran. Citing a US source, the broadcaster said Arab Gulf states have also been updated about a possible renewal of fighting, a message relayed through security officials. Trump himself has played down the prospects of going back to war in recent days, while at the same time insisting he does not care whether a deal is reached.

The conflict has continued, though at a far smaller scale, since US-Israel strikes on Iran began in late February, prompting Tehran to choke off the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for energy transit. The blockage has wreaked havoc on the world economy and sent energy costs rocketing. The US military responded by imposing a naval blockade on Iran and has been working to shield oil tankers transiting the strait from Iranian attacks in an effort to bring energy flows back toward their pre-war levels.