Netanyahu Sought Iran Strike Before Elections, Trump Refused: CNN
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
CNN reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought joint strikes against Iran before recent Israeli and U.S. elections, but President Donald Trump denied approval. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly warned Trump that an attack would cause Israel to postpone its elections, a claim denied by Netanyahu's office and the Defense Minister. Channel 12 previously reported a conflict between Zamir and Netanyahu over a potential operation that could provoke an Iranian response. U.S. forces are reportedly prepared for a significant operation against Iran, likely after the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- CNN reported Prime Minister Netanyahu sought joint strikes against Iran before elections, but President Trump refused.
- IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly warned Trump that an attack would force Israel to postpone elections.
- Netanyahu's office and Defense Minister Israel Katz denied reports of disagreements and plans for an attack.
- Israeli Channel 12 previously reported a conflict between Zamir and Netanyahu over a potential Iranian operation.
- U.S. forces are prepared for a large-scale operation against Iran, likely after the U.S. midterm elections.
- Israel may have postponed strikes due to a need for U.S. missile defense assistance.
CNN reported on October 26 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had sought new strikes against Iran before both Israeli and U.S. elections, but President Donald Trump denied permission, according to Ynet. The report, citing U.S. and Israeli sources, suggests Netanyahu was keen to conduct joint strikes with the U.S. before the elections, but the Trump administration asked him to postpone them until they were ready for joint operations. One Israeli security source told CNN that Trump "did not give the green light" to Netanyahu's request.
According to CNN, a key reason for Trump's refusal was that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir informed U.S. General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that an attack would lead to the postponement of elections in Israel. This claim was denied by the Prime Minister's Office and Defense Minister Israel Katz, who stated there was full coordination between the political leadership and the IDF on the Iran issue and that Israel had no intention of initiating an attack before the elections.
Earlier, on October 25, Israeli Channel 12 reported a sharp conflict between Zamir and Netanyahu. The report alleged the government planned an operation that could provoke a large-scale Iranian response before the Knesset elections. Zamir reportedly demanded further discussions and legal documentation for the operation, fearing it could lead to a rapid confrontation with Iran at a sensitive time. Military affairs commentator Ron Ben-Yishai of Ynet also noted Zamir's concerns that threats and military operations could provoke a clash due to miscalculation.
CNN also reported that U.S. forces in the Middle East are prepared for a potentially larger military operation against Iran within 96 hours of a Trump order. U.S. military officials have compiled a target list including Iranian energy infrastructure, military sites, and nuclear facilities. Intelligence assessments indicate Iran and the Houthis are taking the possibility of renewed strikes seriously and would likely retaliate against U.S. personnel and assets in the region, though preemptive strikes against Israel or U.S. personnel are considered unlikely at this stage. The report suggests Israel has likely postponed new strikes, possibly due to a need for U.S. missile defense assistance, as recent actions have depleted Israeli air defense missile stockpiles. The timing for potential joint operations is likely after the U.S. midterm elections on November 3, though some assessments suggest operations could occur anytime before the end of 2026.
Mentioned
