Israel launched a new series of attacks on Iran early Friday, even as U.S. President Donald Trump urged the Israeli government not to repeat strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, which have fueled the escalating US-Israel conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had acted independently in bombing the South Pars gas field, but noted that Trump had requested a pause on such operations.
“He asked us not to repeat attacks on energy infrastructure,” Netanyahu said.
Addressing the conflict’s impact on Tehran, Netanyahu insisted that Iran was “weaker than ever” after 20 days of airstrikes.
“Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles,” he added, praising Trump’s cooperation throughout the war.
The renewed Israeli strikes come as the US-Israel campaign against Iran enters its fourth week, with Trump reiterating that he has no plans to deploy additional American troops to the Middle East.
“I’m not putting troops anywhere,” the U.S. president said Thursday when questioned about troop movements in the region.
Analysts say Israel’s actions reflect a continued strategic push to limit Iran’s military capabilities, despite warnings from Washington to exercise restraint. The South Pars facility remains a key target, representing one of Tehran’s most important energy assets.
The conflict has already seen multiple incidents, including the emergency landing of a U.S. F-35 after Iranian fire, highlighting the risks for coalition forces operating over Iranian territory. Netanyahu’s remarks, combined with Trump’s caution, suggest an ongoing tension between unilateral Israeli operations and U.S. diplomatic oversight.
Since the US and Israel began attacking the Islamic Republic on February 28, at least 3,186 people have died in Iran, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana).
The agency reported that at least 210 children were among the approximately 1,394 civilian casualties.
As at the time of filing this report, the war has entered its 20th day.
