Israel's Calculated Silence: The Strategy Behind Regime Change Ambitions in Iran

Mon Feb 02 2026 19:47:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a complex diplomatic landscape, Israel remains strategically silent on the potential for US military action against Iran, revealing deeper insights into Netanyahu's ambitions for regime change.

Amid growing tensions in the Middle East, Israeli officials are silently aligning with US military strategies concerning Iran, reflecting a calculated approach by Netanyahu. With many believing the Iranian regime is vulnerable, there's a growing sentiment that this is a crucial moment for Israel to pursue a decisive shift in regional power dynamics. However, significant risks accompany such ambitions, as both US and Israeli policymakers navigate the complexities of potential military action against Iran.

Amid the din of global speculation over US military build-up in the Middle East, Israel's leaders have remained unusually silent.

Aside from some remarks in support of Iran's anti-government protests this month, Israel's prime minister has had little to say publicly about his superpower ally taking on his biggest enemy. His government has remained equally silent.

It shows you the importance Netanyahu puts on this moment, said Danny Citrinowicz, who served for 25 years in Israel's Defence Intelligence, and is now senior Iran researcher at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies.

For Netanyahu, being in this position where the US has so many forces in the Gulf, being so close to Trump attacking Iran, this is - for him - a golden moment in time that he cannot forgo.

Asaf Cohen, a former deputy director of Israel's signals intelligence unit, says there's strategic reasoning in Israel's silence. He believes that the leadership sees the need to let Americans lead the way, as they possess greater capabilities and legitimacy.

Netanyahu has long perceived Iran as Israel's most significant threat and source of instability in the Middle East. His public silence does not imply a lack of private discussions with US allies. This week, Israel's military intelligence chief met with US intelligence agencies in Washington to discuss possible targets in Iran.

Citrinowicz contends that Netanyahu is privately pushing the US towards more aggressive actions and that when he urged Trump to hold back earlier this month, he felt the U.S. response was inadequate.

US President Donald Trump is currently contemplating various actions against Iran, spanning from limited strikes to potential regime change. While many allies warn against the risks of such aggressive strategies, some Israeli officials perceive potential security gains.

By aiming at regime change in Tehran, Israel hopes to eliminate threats from Iran's ballistic missiles and deter future nuclear ambitions. Concerns linger, however, about who would take the reins should the regime fall, given the entrenched military and clerical power structures surrounding Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Polls show that a majority of Jewish Israelis support military action against Iran, yet there's also recognition that simply displacing the regime might not yield the desired stability in a complex regional dynamic.

As tensions continue to escalate, the imperative of effective leadership and strategy becomes clear. Netanyahu's approach reflects a balance of immediate security interests and long-term geopolitical considerations that have far-reaching implications for the entire region.