Report: Netanyahu Planned Iran Attack, Trump Withheld Approval
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned an attack on Iran last weekend, but U.S. President Donald Trump withheld approval due to the upcoming midterm elections. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly informed U.S. officials that the strike would harm election integrity. U.S. forces were on standby for potential operations, and intelligence suggests Iran is planning attacks against U.S. officials.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Benjamin Netanyahu planned an attack on Iran last weekend, but Donald Trump blocked it.
- The U.S. midterm elections were a primary reason for President Trump's decision to halt the strike.
- Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told U.S. officials the attack would "damage the integrity of the elections."
- U.S. forces were prepared for potential operations in Iran within 96 hours of a presidential order.
- Intelligence indicates Iran has advanced plans to target U.S. officials in the Middle East and elsewhere.
- The Prime Minister's office called the CNN report "False news."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly planned an attack on Iran last weekend, but the operation was ultimately halted due to opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a CNN report. A key factor in the decision was the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly communicated to American counterparts that such a move would "damage the integrity of the elections," preventing the U.S. from giving its approval.
U.S. military forces in the Middle East were on standby, prepared to launch new operations in Iran within 96 hours of an order from President Trump. Sources familiar with military planning indicated that the question was not if Trump would order an attack, but when, with some estimating an order could come by year's end, likely after the midterms.
U.S. Central Command and Pentagon officials were reportedly compiling a list of targets in Iran, including energy infrastructure, military sites, and nuclear facilities. This follows a similar report from the Financial Times earlier in the month, which stated Israel had prepared for a multi-day offensive against Iran in early October, also stopped by Trump due to the elections.
Sources told the Financial Times that Netanyahu had pushed for a "new and large" offensive, with targets including civilian infrastructure like power plants, nuclear facilities, and regime-related sites. The U.S. is also reportedly accelerating the evacuation of diplomats and their families from Middle Eastern posts amid fears of regional escalation.
Intelligence received by the U.S. indicated Iran had significantly increased efforts to target American officials, with advanced plans for lethal attacks in the Middle East and elsewhere. In response to the CNN report, the Prime Minister's office stated, "False news."
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