Netanyahu Reportedly Asked IDF to Prepare Major Iran Offensive

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly instructed the Israeli military to prepare for a large-scale offensive against Iran earlier this month, according to the Financial Times, which cited sources close to the matter. The operation, reportedly planned for the weekend of October 10, was intended to involve several days of airstrikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including power plants, as well as nuclear sites and regime-linked targets in Iran. The proposed strikes were described as potentially more intense than a previous US-Israeli operation in February. However, the offensive was ultimately not launched due to opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump, who reportedly did not want hostilities to resume before the U.S. midterm elections on November 3. Despite this, both Netanyahu and Trump continue to threaten Iran with further action, with the U.S. president stating that the U.S. and Israel must "finish the job." It remains unclear if the U.S. would have directly participated in the planned operation. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Israel on Monday and met with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. Sources suggest that Israeli authorities presented an updated list of targets in Iran based on new intelligence, which included civilian infrastructure not previously targeted. One source indicated that the offensive plan might also have been intended to increase pressure on Tehran during ongoing negotiations. The final decision on whether to resume strikes reportedly rests with Donald Trump, with one source suggesting that either an agreement or an attack is imminent regarding negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.