US, Israel plan ‘short but intense’ strikes on Iran after midterm elections; Will Trump approve? | Today’s news
The U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up concrete plans to resume strikes against Iran after November’s midterm elections, U.S. officials and other people briefed on the talks told the New York Times.
The US mid-term elections on November 3 will decide the fate of Republicans in the US Congress – House of Representatives and Senate.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week to discuss the new strikes, US officials said.
The reported upcoming operation against Iran is likely to be “short but intense,” the NYT reported. It claimed that the US and Israeli militaries had stepped up exercises, flying planes over Iraq to rehearse strike maneuvers.
What do the US and Israel plan to focus on this time?
According to the report, the targets of the new US and Israeli strikes would likely include Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and missile and drone arsenals.
Some officials told the NYT that another major round of attacks could push Iran’s economy over the edge and force the country to make diplomatic concessions after nearly eight months of conflict.
“Renewed hostilities may not be more successful”
However, the NYT report noted that renewed hostilities may be no more successful than the first phase of the war.
“Still, there are reasons to be skeptical that a renewed war would be more successful than the first phase of intense US-Israeli strikes between February and April,” the report added.
It said these rounds of fighting have raised energy prices and inflation around the world, undermined security in the Middle East and severely limited the Pentagon’s supply of anti-missile weapons.
Will Trump approve new strikes?
It is also far from certain that President Trump will approve new strikes, the NYT reported.
He has repeatedly vetoed plans to return to major combat operations this year, including this month when the US and Israeli militaries were almost ready to attack,” it added.
Iran is preparing a tougher retaliation
Iran is preparing a broader and stronger response if the United States resumes large-scale military strikes, sources told Reuters in early October.
The plan reflects the Iranian leadership’s belief that any renewed US campaign must be met with a stronger response than before, even as Tehran seeks to de-escalate through talks.
The sources said senior Iranian commanders were reviewing plans to expand potential targets beyond US-linked assets to countries that support US military operations and possibly to locations outside the Middle East.
Tehran is also weighing the political risks of a prolonged conflict for Trump. Polls show the war has been unpopular with Americans, while higher fuel prices remain an issue ahead of the midterm elections.
The conflict between Iran, the US and Israel began with US-Israeli attacks on February 28. Although an April 8 ceasefire ended the 40-day war, hostilities have continued sporadically since then.
As the U.S. amasses a massive arsenal that will be fully deployed in early November, diplomatic efforts continue.
US negotiators are using a potential return to war as leverage with Iran to make progress on their demands over its nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz, the NYT reported.
So far, however, Iranian negotiators have been unwilling to make concessions on the nuclear program, insisting on postponing the issue until later in the talks.
