US Forces Ready for Major Strikes on Iran Within 96 Hours of Trump’s Order: Report

US forces in West Asia are ready to launch new, potentially major military operations against Iran within 96 hours of an order from President Donald Trump, with enough forces in the region to carry them out, CNN reported, citing two US officials.

‘IT WILL BE A BIG EFFORT’

The scope of any operation would likely go beyond limited strikes on Iranian radars, missile launchers and other military assets that can be quickly rebuilt, the officials said. “It will be a big effort,” one told CNN. Other current and former officials familiar with internal military planning echoed the assessment, and some believe it is a question of when, not if, Trump gives the order. They think it could come at any time before the end of the year, most likely after the US midterm elections.

Officials acknowledged that Iranian forces are now more familiar with American tactics, which makes it harder to destroy every intended target. US Central Command and the Pentagon are drawing up a wide-ranging target list that includes Iranian energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities.

WILL TRUMP ORDER IT?

Trump has not made up his mind on his next steps after the midterms, officials said, though he appears to be leaning towards major military action. They cautioned that he has previously seemed inclined towards certain actions before backing away at the last moment. The White House declined to comment.

A senior Pentagon official said the department “is a planning organisation,” whose job is “to develop and execute military options ordered by the President.”

One US official described the situation around the Strait of Hormuz as “untenable” in the long term, which could push Trump towards military action barring a last-minute diplomatic breakthrough.

Oil prices remain high despite more tankers transiting the strait, partly because of the threat of Iranian attacks. CNN also reported that questions remain over whether the White House has a broader strategy for ending the conflict.

IRAN’S PLANS TO HIT BACK

US intelligence assessments indicate that Iran and Yemen’s Houthi rebels are taking the prospect of renewed US attacks, possibly alongside Israel, seriously. If the US and Israel strike, Tehran and the Houthis would likely retaliate immediately against American personnel and facilities in the region and possibly beyond, sources said. They are unlikely to launch pre-emptive attacks at this stage, but would not hesitate to respond if Iran is hit first.

An unclassified October 23 memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel,” and that plotting “has reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries.”

EMBASSIES THINNED OUT

That threat is one reason the US is expected to continue quietly withdrawing personnel from embassies across West Asia in the coming days. The embassy in Riyadh is currently the only American diplomatic facility in the region under an ordered departure, but a source said others should get similar directives, while those without would be scaled down under a personnel cap.

Nonessential US military personnel due to deploy to the region in the next rotation have also been told they will not be sent.

NETANYAHU WANTED TO STRIKE; TRUMP SAID WAIT

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing for more attacks on Iran, but US officials have asked him to wait until the Trump administration is ready for joint operations, according to two US officials and an Israeli security source.

“Netanyahu really wanted and tried to convince Trump for a joint attack in Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give a green light,” the Israeli source said. One reason, the source said, was that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that an attack would harm Israel’s elections and lead to their postponement.

A third source said Israel had prepared for the possibility of fresh strikes over the preceding week and lobbied US officials to back and complement them, but senior officials, including Trump, told Israel to hold off, signalling joint operations would come soon.

Israel appears to have postponed strikes for now but is building up for possible joint operations after the American midterms. Part of the reason it agreed to wait is that it needs US missile defence support, because Iranian and Houthi retaliation could further strain its defensive munitions.

NO CLEAR OBJECTIVE?

Recent US intelligence assessments also suggest that Netanyahu and his allies lack a clear strategic objective beyond showing “progress” and continuing to degrade the Iranian regime.

This week, at an IDF graduation ceremony, Netanyahu said his directive to the IDF, the Mossad and other agencies was to topple the regime in Iran. “The plans are ready, waiting for Trump’s approval, could be after the midterms,” the same source said.

KATZ: ‘COMPLETELY BASELESS’

On Sunday night, Israel’s Channel 12 reported a brewing confrontation between Netanyahu and Zamir over attacks on Iran. On Monday, Defence Minister Israel Katz denied it, according to The Times of Israel. “The reports of disagreements between the political leadership and the IDF on Iran are completely baseless and false,” he said. “I state unequivocally that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack on Iran before the elections in Israel, while making clear that if Iran attacks Israel, we will respond with great force.”

With inputs from ANI