US Forces Ready for Potential Iran Attack Within 96 Hours

U.S. forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch potentially extensive military operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Donald Trump, two American officials told CNN. The necessary forces are already deployed in the region, according to the sources. While Trump has not yet decided on a course of action following the U.S. midterm elections, he appears inclined to order a significant operation. These actions are expected to go beyond "mowing the grass" tactics or maintaining the status quo by striking quickly repairable Iranian assets like radars and launchers. "It will be a broad effort," one official stated. Former and current officials familiar with internal military planning discussions share a similar assessment, with some believing the question is not if Trump will give the order, but when. They estimate the order could come anytime by year's end, likely after the midterms. However, officials cautioned that Trump has previously shown a tendency to lean towards certain actions only to withdraw them at the last minute. The White House declined to comment on the report. A Pentagon official stated, "The Department of Defense is a planning body, and its role is to develop and execute military options that the President orders."

Iranian forces are reportedly more aware of U.S. operational methods, potentially making it harder for the U.S. military to effectively destroy all intended targets. Nevertheless, U.S. Central Command and Pentagon officials are compiling a broad target list that includes Iranian energy infrastructure, military sites, and nuclear facilities. Recent U.S. intelligence assessments suggest Iran and the Houthi rebels are taking the possibility of renewed attacks from the U.S. and possibly Israel seriously. These sources indicate that if the U.S. and Israel launch new military actions, Tehran and the Houthis are expected to retaliate immediately by attacking U.S. personnel and facilities across the region and potentially beyond.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing for new strikes against Iran, but U.S. officials have urged him to wait for the Trump administration to be ready for joint operations. "Netanyahu very much wanted and tried to convince Trump to carry out a joint attack on Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give the green light," an Israeli security source told CNN. This source cited that one reason for Trump's refusal was that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir informed U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kaine that such an operation would harm Israel's elections and lead to their postponement. According to one source familiar with recent U.S. intelligence assessments, Netanyahu and his allies still lack a clear strategic objective beyond presenting some "progress" and continuing to weaken the Iranian regime. Netanyahu stated in a recent speech that his directive to the IDF, Mossad, and other security agencies is to topple the regime in Iran.