The United States and Israel have drawn up specific plans for renewed strikes on Iran to be carried out after the American midterm elections, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.
The paper, citing U.S. officials and others briefed on the deliberations, all speaking anonymously, said the two militaries are preparing a short, intensive operation.
According to the Times, the militaries have stepped up exercises, with planes flying over Iraq to rehearse strike maneuvers. U.S. officials told the paper that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel this week to discuss new strikes.
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The likely targets, the report said, are Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenal, although some officials said refineries would be spared so as not to push gasoline prices higher. The Times added that some U.S. planners are convinced a three-day campaign could do enough economic damage to change Iran’s position.
The paper offered several reasons for the post-election timing. The American force, which includes three aircraft carriers, thousands of Marines, fighter jets and special operations forces, will not be fully in place until early November, when the hours of darkness over Iran, which the U.S. military prefers for attacks, also increase.
The Times noted that President Donald Trump promised earlier this month not to strike before the vote. Officials said there is a small possibility he could order a campaign this month.
Nothing has been approved, according to the report. The Times said Trump has vetoed several plans for a return to major combat this year, most recently this month, when U.S. and Israeli defense officials said the operation was nearly ready to launch. A White House official told the paper the administration does not comment on military plans “that may or may not exist.”
The Times noted that Israel’s Oct. 27 election could complicate matters: if Netanyahu loses, he would be a caretaker prime minister and would find it hard to launch a war.