Channel 12 reported that unnamed U.S. sources suspected Israel wanted an Iranian response to a fighter-jet flight near the border, potentially strengthening Israel’s case for a strike.
Channel 12’s account placed the aircraft above Syria and Iraq on a flight spanning late Monday and early Tuesday; they then reversed course near Iran. Axios also described the same sortie, reporting that dozens of Israeli fighters reached Iran’s border Monday before turning back.
Axios said some U.S. sources also suspected Israel hoped Iranian forces would fire. Channel 12 said those sources viewed such a response as potentially helping Israel justify a strike, but described it as a suspicion about Israel’s purpose rather than a confirmed objective. Both outlets described the flight, but the possible motive came from unnamed U.S. sources who were not identified by name.
