Miscalculation leads to escalation as Israel and Iran clash

Israel was mere moments away from an airstrike on April 1 that killed several senior Iranian commanders at Iran's embassy complex in Syria before it told the United States what was about to happen.

Israel's closest ally had just been caught off guard. Publicly, US officials voiced support for Israel, but privately, they expressed anger that it would take such aggressive action against Iran without consulting Washington.

The Israelis had badly miscalculated, thinking that Iran would not react strongly, according to multiple US officials - a view shared by a senior Israeli official. On Saturday, Iran launched a retaliatory barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel - an unexpectedly large-scale response, if one that did minimal damage.

The events made clear that the unwritten rules of engagement in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran...