The United States and Israel have been close allies for decades, but the current war against Iran represents the most direct and comprehensive military partnership in the history of their relationship. American bombers and Israeli jets are conducting simultaneous operations across multiple theaters, targeting Iran’s military infrastructure, Hezbollah’s command structure, and the entire strategic architecture that Iran has built over decades to project power across the Middle East. President Donald Trump has embraced this partnership as the foundation of his Middle Eastern strategy.
The military cooperation has been extensive and unprecedented. American B-2 stealth bombers have struck Iran’s buried missile infrastructure with dozens of 2,000-pound penetrating munitions, while Israeli jets have simultaneously targeted Hezbollah’s command infrastructure in Lebanon. A large Iranian naval vessel has been struck and possibly sunk. Mass evacuation orders in Lebanon have displaced over one million people. The defense secretary has promised a dramatic surge in US firepower. The IDF chief has promised new phases and surprises. The two militaries are operating in coordination across multiple theaters simultaneously.
The costs of the partnership have been significant on both sides. Six American soldiers have been killed by Iranian retaliatory strikes. Multiple American military bases across the Gulf have been targeted. The United States has absorbed international criticism for its role in strikes, including the devastating airstrike on an Iranian girls’ school that killed more than 100 students. Global economic disruption — oil prices, cancelled flights, volatile markets — has added to the domestic political costs of the campaign.
Israel has paid its own costs. Missiles have struck Israeli residential areas, including an incident in Tel Aviv that started fires in a residential building. Five Israeli soldiers were wounded near the Lebanese border. The military is managing simultaneous operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian forces in Iran, a logistical and operational challenge of considerable complexity. Northern Israeli communities are experiencing ongoing rocket fire that has disrupted civilian life.
Trump has declared the partnership with Israel total and unwavering. He has described the campaign as a joint effort to eliminate a shared threat and has shared the stated objective of ensuring that Iran never again poses a danger to either the United States or Israel. The partnership has never been more active or more operationally significant. Its costs — in lives, treasure, international standing, and regional stability — will be debated long after the current campaign concludes.