There seems to be one point that is overlooked.

As an adjunct of the US military establishment, Israel seems to have gone entirely with the Top Gun, aircraft vision of warfare, while Iran has gone primarily with missiles, as have Russia and, uncommented on, China as well.

Anyone following military history for the last forty, if not 70 years, understands missiles will do to aircraft carriers what aircraft carriers did to battleships. Make them obsolete.

So Israel does seem stuck using aircraft, flying across potentially hostile airspace, to attack Iran.

Not only that, but many of those countries in the middle, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, etc, have told them they are not allowed to use their airspace to attack Iran.

Which means flying down the Red Sea and around the Arabian peninsula. Which would require in flight refueling and thus exposing those air tankers to attack.

Given the Houthis have shot down 10 American drones, it seems likely Israeli aircraft might find various surprises along the way, even before getting there.

My sense is, this is the big reason Israel hasn't attacked so far.

It's not like the US wants to get drawn in, given those bases and ships in the region might find bullseyes on them, from some hypersonic missile.

Now they might have some trick up their sleeves, but exploding pagers would look like a wet noodle, at this point.