US strikes Iran: Israelis hail attack and hope it will end the war

Israelis awoke on Sunday to the dramatic news that the United States had launched air strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, marking Washington's entry into the war Israel began against Iran just over a week ago.

But celebrations were short-lived. By 7:30am, air raid sirens wailed across the country as Iran fired a wave of missiles.

As Israelis waited in bomb shelters, the missiles struck Tel Aviv and Haifa, wounding several and causing significant damage.

Despite the attacks, many Israelis expressed support for US President Donald Trump's decision to heed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call to join the fight.

"The US has bombs we don't have. That's what should have happened," said Stav, a Tel Aviv resident. 

Another local, Tal, told Middle East Eye he hoped the strikes would "end the war more quickly and reduce the missile fire", adding he wished they would "eliminate Iran's nuclear programme and ballistic missiles".

Many in the Israeli media were also satisfied by the attack. 

Senior journalist Ben Caspit, who is considered one of Netanyahu's harshest critics, wrote on X: "History. We waited for it for 15 years. We will wait for the damage assessment and the Iranian response. Thank you, President Trump."

'Iran can't escalate their response too much'

- Tal, Tel Aviv resident

Yaron Avraham, the political correspondent for Channel 12, Israel's leading news channel, did not wait for the attack's assessment to heap praise on Netanyahu.

"A tremendous success for Netanyahu, who is currently writing a legacy in the field that he first warned about, even when everyone ridiculed him and few believed," he wrote on his X account.

According to Avraham, Netanyahu's success was expressed in the initiative to attack Iran first and the recruitment of Trump to join the attack, which gave "a decisive blow to the three significant nuclear facilities, first and foremost, Fordow".

Tal also praised the collaboration between Trump and Netanyahu. "They put on a good show. If it will destroy Iran's nuclear programme, then you can say that they did a good job," he told MEE.

Stav said that Trump and Netanyahu "did a great job. Bibi [Netanyahu] restored Israel's honour with the war in Iran after what happened in Gaza".

'Iran can't escalate' 

Support for the US attack cut across political lines in Israel, with both right- and left-leaning figures praising the move.

Tomer Persico, an academic who is considered in Israel to be a left-leaning Zionist, wrote this morning on his X account that "the subjugation of Iran is a significant basis for the establishment of a Middle East of regional alliances and not of terrorist proxies".

"From here, we must move towards a regional agreement that includes normalisation with Saudi Arabia and a move towards the final condition for a new Middle East: the establishment of a Palestinian state," Persico added.

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Despite public support, life in Israel remains far from normal. 

The Home Front Command has restricted activity across the country, allowing only essential workers to report to their jobs. 

In Tel Aviv, streets remain noticeably emptier than usual for a Sunday, as many residents stay near shelters for a second consecutive week.

Stav, one of many Israelis unable to work due to the war, said this is "what we have to go through. There's no other choice".

"I hope it will end as soon as possible, and we can live with Iran in peace," Stav said of the possibility that the war would escalate now.

Tal is less worried about a potential escalation in the war. 

"Iran can't escalate their response too much," he told MEE. "Iran will want to make some kind of agreement. I don't know how long it will take, but it's worth it."