Trump, PM in close coordination but US, Israeli war aims aren’t identical — report

US President Donald Trump is the senior American official most aligned with Israeli objectives in the war on Iran, US officials tell the Axios news site.

Coordination between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Trump is closer than ever, and the two talk almost every day, according to the site. The two countries’ intelligence services are also working in tandem.

Israel and the US are focusing on different targets, however. The US is focused on military targets, says Axios, while Israel is conducting assassinations and creating the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow the regime.

Despite the coordination, there isn’t 100% overlap in the goals, senior US officials say.

“Israel has other focuses and we know that,” says a White House official.

Trump will end the war when the military objectives are accomplished, and reportedly sees regime changes as a bonus.

“Israel is going to try to kill their new leader. They’re much more interested in that than we are,” says a second official.

“Israel doesn’t hate the chaos. We do. We want stability. Netanyahu? Not so much, especially in Iran. They hate the Iranian government a lot more than we do,” says a White House official.

According to the Axios report, the US has asked Israel not to target Iran’s oil facilities again without approval from Washington.