Israel’s government considered ordering strikes on Iran in retaliation for Iran’s attack on Israeli territory over the weekend, but ultimately did not implement the plans presented to it, Israeli and American media reported on Wednesday night. .

According to Israeli state TV channel Kan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to implement pre-approved plans to carry out retaliatory strikes in the event of an attack after discussions with US President Joe Biden.

“Diplomatic” sensitivities were raised, and “there will indeed be a retribution, but it will be different than what was originally envisioned,” a senior official at the network said on condition of anonymity.

Israeli sources told US news website Axios that Israel’s wartime government considered launching a retaliatory strike on Monday, two nights after the Iranian attack, but ultimately decided against giving the go-ahead.

“We don’t know why or how close (Israel) came to attacking (Iran),” a US official told Axios. According to the same report, Israel informed the administration of US President Biden on Monday, which is calling on it to show restraint, that it has decided to wait.

According to information from the American television network ABC News, the Israeli government twice considered the possibility of retaliating against Iran in recent days, but ultimately did not give the order.

However, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated yesterday that his country has the right to “protect itself”, despite the appeals of the international community, which seeks to prevent Israeli retaliation on Iranian soil, which could lead to a flare-up in the Middle East.

The US, Israel’s main ally, says it does not want a “war with Iran” and made it clear that it would not participate in any Israeli retaliation, however, yesterday Tuesday it announced that it would proceed with the imposition of new sanctions against Tehran.

Similarly, the European Union decided yesterday to proceed with sanctions targeting companies and entities that produce drones and missiles in Iran to “send a clear message” after the attack on Israeli soil, European Council President Charles Michel said.

On the night of Saturday to Sunday, Iran launched more than 350 drones and missiles against Israel, almost all of which were destroyed before reaching Israeli territory. It was Iran’s first direct attack on Israel in history.

Tehran has claimed it acted in self-defense after a deadly bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, which it blamed on the Israeli military.