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2026: "Round Two," a Joint War, "Ready," and "I Didn't Ask for Permission"

Evidence rating: CONFIRMED for the February 28 address (Times of Israel full text; AP), the June 24 speech (Prime Minister's Office; News18), and the Axios "round 2" report. MODERATE where the only record is a headline or news summary (marked).

Between the two wars, the record shows Netanyahu planning the second one with the American President, timing it to when American protection was in place, launching it jointly, and then, months later, saying he had never needed Washington's permission in the first place.

December 2025: "round 2"​

Axios reported that "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed with President Trump the possibility of a 'round 2' of strikes against Iran in 2026" (Barak Ravid on X, December 31, 2025; Axios).

January 2026: wait until the Americans are ready​

The New York Times reported, citing a senior U.S. official, that "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has asked President Trump to postpone any plans for an American military attack on Iran" (as quoted on X, January 15, 2026). The reason, per the Washington Post as summarized: "Netanyahu told Trump that Israel was not fully prepared to handle Iranian retaliation without strong American support," and "Israel relies heavily on American naval and missile support, which was not mobilized." The same summary noted the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group was heading to the Middle East (Defense Intelligence on X, January 18, 2026). The delay was not a step back from war. It was waiting until American forces were in place to absorb the response.

February 28, 2026: "a joint campaign"​

Six weeks later, in a video message:

"My brothers and sisters, citizens of Israel, A short while ago, Israel and the United States launched a joint campaign, Operation Roaring Lion ... the IDF is striking targets of the oppressive regime, facilities of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, and together with the US military, ballistic missile sites that threaten both Israel and US forces."

"We are doing this in full coordination with our friends in the US, under the courageous leadership of [US President Donald] Trump. Together with the US, we will strike the terror regime hard and create conditions that will enable the brave Iranian people to cast off the yoke of this murderous regime." (Times of Israel full text, February 28, 2026)

The AP rendered the operation's name as "Lion's Roar" (AP). Two days later the U.S. Secretary of State explained the timing: "We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action" (Rubio).

June 3: "ready"​

Al Jazeera English headlined: "Netanyahu says Israeli, US troops 'ready' if needed in Iran" (Al Jazeera English on X, June 3, 2026). His exact words were not captured. MODERATE.

June 24: "I didn't ask for permission"​

In a speech excerpted by his own office, looking back on the June 2025 war:

"When I came to President Trump before Operation Rising Lion, I told him we were going into Iran because I would not wait for those who openly declare they want to destroy us. I didn't ask for permission; I simply informed him of our plan." (News18, June 25, 2026; Prime Minister's Office on X; video)

He added that he was pleased Trump later joined. That is the sequence in his own telling: Israel decides, informs, begins; America joins.

July 29: "the decision rests with the U.S. president"​

On ABC News, as an X news summary reported, Netanyahu said Trump had three options (a deal, the blockade, or military action) and "denies urging Trump to restart the war, saying they openly discussed all options and that the decision rests with the U.S. president." His words: "Anything that leads to the elimination of Iran's nuclear program is what we want. That is our common goal" (X news summary, July 30, 2026). Set that beside June 24's "I didn't ask for permission," December's "round 2," and February's "joint campaign."

What others who know him say​

  • John Kerry, former Secretary of State, April 2026: "[Netanyahu] wanted us to strike," saying he tried to convince President Obama, who refused (Middle East Eye on X, April 10, 2026).
  • Avi Shlaim, the Israeli-British historian: "Netanyahu is obsessed with Iran, and for the last 30 years he has been advocating a joint American-Israeli strike against Iran. No American president until Trump was stupid enough to go along with this mad scheme" (video as posted on X, September 3, 2026).
  • The Senate floor, Congressional Record, April 15, 2026: "For 40 years—for 40 years—Netanyahu had wanted the United States to participate with Israel in a war against Iran" (Congress on Israel's Role).
  • Joe Kent, resigning as counterterrorism director: "it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby" (Joe Kent).

Status: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, John Kerry, Avi Shlaim, Barak Ravid, and Joe Kent are alive.

Sources​

Last Updated: 2026-09-26

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