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Even as Ground Invasion Looms, U.S. and Iran Want Wild-card Israel Out of the Fight

On 19 July 2026, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an analysis under the headline Even as Ground Invasion Looms, U.S. and Iran Want Wild-card Israel Out of the Fight. The title treats a ground invasion as already on the way, in a war between the United States and Iran. An American family should care because a ground invasion is the step that puts soldiers on land, not only aircraft overhead. The page also says that, for now, both governments want Israel kept out of a new fight in the Persian Gulf.

Background for new readers: On 28 February 2026 the United States and Israel began a joint air war on Iran. The Pentagon calls its part Operation Epic Fury; Israel calls its part Operation Roaring Lion. It came eight months after a shorter war in June 2025, when US bombers hit Iran's nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The question running through this section is whether the air war turns into American soldiers fighting on Iranian soil. This article is filed under Israel Keeps Its Infantry Home; the full article index lists every article on this shelf.

Evidence rating: MODERATE. One of Israel's leading newspapers published this analysis under a headline that treats a ground invasion as looming. Only the standfirst and one body paragraph loaded, and no author name appeared. The rating covers what Haaretz published.

What the article says​

Haaretz labels the piece an analysis. The standfirst says that after several weeks of gradual escalation, there are growing signs the war may intensify and expand. It says both parties wish to exclude Israel, and that the Israeli government had yet to give the public any explanation, "just like the June 2025 war."

The one body paragraph that loaded repeats that warning. It says the United States and Iran, for the time being, appear to have no interest in drawing Israel into a renewed confrontation in the Persian Gulf. It says that could still happen if the fighting cannot be kept in the Gulf, or because of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political considerations. The article calls that his dire domestic situation.

For the time being, it still appears that the two countries have no interest in drawing Israel into a renewed confrontation in the Persian Gulf.

That is Haaretz, 19 July 2026. After that paragraph the page shows a subscription prompt, and the rest of the column did not load.

What other reporting adds​

Israel's defense minister on staying out, or going it alone. Three weeks before this analysis, Defense Minister Israel Katz told Ynet: "My directive to the IDF is to prepare for a blue-and-white operation in Iran," meaning an Israeli-only strike, and "If Iran attacks, that is the third Iran war." (Ynet, 29 June 2026; research capture: twitter/t52__v624.md). Later in the summer, Israel National News (Arutz Sheva) headlined him: "Israel will only join attacks on Iran if Trump asks us to." In the same piece he credited Netanyahu with "bringing the United States to act alongside Israel against Iran." (Israel National News; the capture records two date stamps, 31 July and 31 August 2026; research capture: twitter/t52__v624.md). In both, the fight is framed as America's, with Israel choosing whether to join.

What the "looming" referred to. Four days after this analysis, a New York Post story, as pasted on X, reported Trump telling Israel's Channel 12: "I am considering a massive attack," and said "roughly 50,000 American troops" were stationed across the region (@P_F_Lherisson_ on X, 23 July 2026; research capture: twitter/t49__v580.md). Two days after that, the New York Post reported planning for a uranium raid that "would involve thousands of ground troops" (as pasted by @OwenGregorian on X, 25 July 2026; research capture: twitter/t52__v613.md).

What it shows​

By July 2026 an Israeli paper could headline a US ground invasion of Iran as "looming," and in the same breath say that Israel should be kept out of the fight. Days later, the New York Post reported planning for a uranium raid that "would involve thousands of ground troops," with about 50,000 American troops stationed across the region. Israel's defense minister, meanwhile, said Israel would join attacks on Iran only "if Trump asks us to," while crediting Netanyahu with "bringing the United States to act alongside Israel against Iran." The ground war is framed as America's to fight. See Israel Keeps Its Infantry Home and Kharg Island and the Uranium Raid.

Check it yourself​

Status: Benjamin Netanyahu is alive.

Last Updated: 2026-09-26

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