Israel Prepares Independent Action as US Hesitates Over Iran Conflict

Following reports from CNN that US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan McKenzie is seeking an exit strategy from the conflict with Iran, Israel is preparing for the possibility of acting independently against the Islamic Republic. McKenzie reportedly doubts that further air campaigns would advance negotiations with Tehran and has expressed concerns about escalating military options potentially backfiring. He has discussed these issues with senior officials including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President Mike Pence's deputy, J.D. Vance, who also noted that Iran wants to end the conflict but it is unclear if it can meet US demands.

McKenzie has highlighted the dwindling US drone inventory as a significant challenge but also assured President Donald Trump that the US could "completely destroy" Iran if the decision to continue fighting is made. A White House official praised McKenzie's contributions to the national security team, citing the success of recent military operations. Meanwhile, reports from The Washington Post indicated a tense exchange between Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over ammunition shortages, which may be limiting US military options against Iran. The White House dismissed these reports as "fake news," but sources confirmed Trump was frustrated about not receiving a full picture of the situation.

Reuters reported that the US military has used most of its long-range precision missile stockpile during five months of conflict with Iran, including ATACMS missiles with a 160-kilometer range and newer PrSM missiles with a 500-kilometer range. Approximately half of the US Tomahawk missile inventory has also been depleted. However, US Central Command has replenished some of these munitions by transferring supplies from other global bases. These developments underscore the challenges facing the US in sustaining prolonged military pressure on Iran, while Israel prepares for potential unilateral action.