Israel is prepared to take part in any future US military action against Iran if Washington requests its assistance, according to a report by the New York Post, as tensions in the region continue to rise following US President Donald Trump's declaration that the ceasefire with Tehran is "over."
A source quoted by the publication said Israel had already demonstrated its willingness to stand alongside the United States during the recent conflict and remained ready to do so again if required.
"We've proved that we stand with the US," a source told The Post. "I'm not sure it will be the interest of them - of the US that Israel will join on this - but, you know, we realize that we need to stretch our muscles."
The remarks came after the United States carried out fresh airstrikes on Iran early Thursday, triggering retaliatory missile attacks by Tehran against countries allied with Washington across the Middle East. The latest round of hostilities further heightened regional tensions and placed the already fragile ceasefire under renewed pressure.
The escalation followed similar exchanges a day earlier that had already cast doubt over the durability of the truce. On Thursday, the conflict widened as air raid sirens sounded at least three times in Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. Iran also fired missiles toward Kuwait and Qatar.
Air raid sirens were heard in Jordan later in the day as well. The country hosts US troops and military aircraft.
Despite two consecutive days of military exchanges that threatened to unravel the ceasefire, discussions between Washington and Tehran at the technical level remain underway, according to a US official.
The continuation of those talks is expected to ease concerns over an immediate return to full-scale war after the United States launched new strikes on Iranian targets, saying they were carried out in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, in turn, responded by targeting US military bases in the region on both of the past two nights.
Amid the renewed hostilities, Trump said on Wednesday that the ceasefire was “over,” while indicating that diplomatic efforts would still be allowed to continue.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran had been postponed earlier this week as Iran observed several days of funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the joint US-Israeli military campaign.
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