Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Air Force)
The United States and Israel have drawn up plans for renewed military strikes on Iran following the American midterm elections next November, The New York Times reported on October 21, citing U.S. officials and others briefed on the matter.
The plans reportedly envisage a short but intensive operation targeting Iranian energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and the country’s missile and drone arsenals.
The U.S. and Israeli militaries have stepped up joint preparations, including flights over neighboring Iraq to rehearse strike maneuvers.
Officials cited by the newspaper said renewed strikes could severely damage Iran’s economy and force Tehran to make diplomatic concessions. The report noted, however, that U.S. President Donald Trump has not committed to authorizing further military action.
A separate report from NBC News revealed that the U.S. is also quietly reducing its troop presence at bases in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait while cutting staffing at diplomatic missions across the Middle East amid threats from Iran.
Amid these developments, Trump said there were no negotiations with Tehran and indicated that developments in the conflict could come soon.
“We are not negotiating with” Iran, Trump told a reporter before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews.
“Something one way or another will happen, fairly soon,” he continued. “Most people seem to think it’s after the election.”
In apparent response to recent escalation, a senior Iranian security official told the semi-official Fars News Agency that Tehran expects another U.S.-Israeli attack and considers Washington’s diplomatic efforts insincere.
The official warned that any renewed large-scale conflict involving the assassination of Iranian officials or the killing of civilians would lead Iran to consider U.S. political targets and the infrastructure of countries participating in the war “legitimate targets.”
Overall, it is clear that the U.S. and Israel will attack Iran again. Recent Hebrew media reports even revealed that dozens of Israeli warplanes have already flown close to the border of the Islamic Republic in the hope of provoking some response. Tehran is keeping its finger on the trigger and is guaranteed to strike back in the case of a new attack. One thing is sure this time, and that is that the U.S. and Israel have lost the element of surprise.
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