On Feb. 11, Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Washington for a private meeting with Donald Trump that stretched for hours. The Israeli Prime Minister's message was direct. "We've come this far, Donald," Netanyahu told the President, according to a source present. "We have to finish what we started."
Over the previous six months, Netanyahu had argued repeatedly that past strikes on Iran should be treated not as isolated wins but as preparation for a final campaign, "Hvylya" reports, citing a TIME investigation. Iran was playing for time, he argued, and would race toward a nuclear bomb in secret. "After they got hit the last time, they thought they had nothing to lose," an Israeli official said.
Netanyahu's push reflected a different vision of the conflict from the one Trump's own team had developed. The President had long favored what aides call "one-and-done" operations - swift surgical strikes that achieve a clear result without open-ended commitments. He had used this model in Yemen, Syria, Somalia, and most audaciously in Venezuela, where the capture of Nicolas Maduro created room for a more compliant government and access to the country's oil reserves.
The Israeli Prime Minister argued that Iran was fundamentally different. Half-measures would fail because Tehran would interpret any pause as an opportunity to rebuild. Trump ultimately agreed, and 16 days after the private meeting, ordered the strikes that launched Operation Epic Fury. When asked about the Israelis, Trump told TIME: "They'll do what I tell them. They've been a good team player. They'll stop when I stop."
As the war drags on, both leaders face tightening political constraints. Netanyahu has Israeli elections looming and limited room to maneuver without Trump's backing. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, another key player, is inclined to prolong the conflict, viewing it as a rare chance to weaken a common adversary - but he, too, depends on Trump's timeline. Trump's own pollster has told him the conflict is growing increasingly unpopular at home, with gas prices past $4 a gallon and 13 American service members confirmed killed.
Also read: "Hvylya" reported on why Iran's opposition lacks the leadership and structure to challenge the regime from within.