Israeli officials said ready to join US strikes on Iran if approved

WASHINGTON, United States — Israeli officials have told US counterparts they are prepared to take part in further American airstrikes on Iran, pending approval from President Donald Trump, Israeli media reported. Speaking to the New York Post, an unidentified Israeli source said the country was ready to rejoin the fighting and "return fully to the war," while adding that authorities did not want to send civilians to shelters but could not ignore developments in Iran. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said unnamed officials were awaiting a green light from Trump before acting. The reported positioning follows two rounds of US airstrikes that Trump ordered on Wednesday after declaring that a previous understanding and ceasefire had collapsed. Meanwhile, mediators from Pakistan, Qatar and other regional states have been working to de-escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran and revive negotiations. According to Reuters, the mediators believe both sides had made progress during earlier rounds and are seeking to prevent the breakdown of the understandings reached.