The world expected more from Israel; why hasn’t Israel already begun to intervene militarily? Israel’s response to the ongoing Iranian uprisings, which erupted in late December 2025 and have escalated into widespread anti-regime protests, has indeed been notably restrained, with no signs of military intervention as of January 19, 2026. While some international observers and commentators may have anticipated a more aggressive stance from Israel—given its long-standing view of the Iranian regime as an existential threat—several strategic, political, and practical factors explain this caution. These insights draw from recent analyses and statements from Israeli officials, think tanks, and media. Strategic Restraint to Avoid BackfiringA key reason for Israel’s non-intervention is the belief that overt military or public involvement could undermine the protests rather than aid them. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have calculated that any visible Israeli action might allow the Iranian regime to portray the uprisings as externally orchestrated, potentially unifying Iranians against a perceived foreign enemy and justifying harsher crackdowns. timesofisrael.com +4
This concern is rooted in historical patterns: Past Iranian protests (e.g., in 2009, 2019, and 2022) were often framed by Tehran as plots by Israel or the U.S., which helped the regime rally support and intensify repression. Netanyahu has reportedly instructed cabinet ministers to remain silent on the issue, limiting official comments to brief expressions of solidarity with protesters.
atlanticcouncil.org +1This “silence as strategy” aims to prevent escalation into a broader regional conflict, allowing internal dynamics—driven by economic collapse, inflation, and public disillusionment—to potentially destabilize the regime without external interference.