The central question surrounding Israel’s dramatic operation in Qatar is whether President Donald Trump was truly surprised. Could Israel have realistically taken such an action without informing the U.S. president in advance?
The situation has stirred memories of last year, when Israel eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. At that time, Defense Minister Galant informed his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, only after Israeli fighter jets were already en route—fearing a leak that could jeopardize the mission.
But with a new U.S. president, analysts argue the circumstances are very different. “It’s inconceivable that Israel would launch such a strike, so close to the largest American base in the Middle East, without prior approval from Washington,” one commentator noted.
Reports that Israel acted completely alone are seen by many as implausible. Observers point out that the last time Trump had fighter jets on their way to a major strike—in the final days of the Iran war—he personally called off the attack. That precedent makes it highly unlikely that Israel would risk flying missions near U.S. forces without coordination.