Israel’s long campaign to persuade President Trump to strike Iran culminated in a United States military operation that was widely seen as a strategic victory for Israel. For months, Israeli officials had pressed the White House to take military action, arguing that Iran posed an urgent and growing threat.

The decision to move forward with the strike has since sparked political debate in Washington about the extent of Israel’s influence over the administration’s foreign policy. Critics have questioned whether the United States was drawn into conflict primarily to serve Israeli interests.

Journalists Mark Mazzetti and Ronen Bergman describe an unusually close level of coordination between Israel and the United States leading up to the operation. Their reporting sheds light on how intelligence sharing, strategic alignment, and sustained diplomatic pressure shaped a decision that is now fueling tension at home and abroad.