Notably absent from Rubio’s statement was any explicit assurance that the U.S. would back Israel if Tehran retaliated—a line that had once been a hallmark of U.S.-Israel policy. Trump, meanwhile, who finds himself increasingly at odds with Netanyahu over Iran and Israel’s conduct in Gaza, is walking a tightrope.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday called Israel's strikes against Iran a "unilateral action" and said Washington was not involved while also urging Tehran not to target U.S. interests or personnel in the region.