The United States has positioned military forces across the Middle East to launch large-scale strikes against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Donald Trump, according to CNN, raising the prospect of another major regional confrontation.
But behind the military preparations, a more complicated picture is emerging: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly wants to attack Iran before Israel’s upcoming elections, while Washington is pressing him to hold off, not necessarily to prevent a confrontation, but to prepare for a potentially broader joint military offensive.
CNN, citing American officials and an Israeli security source, reported that Netanyahu had sought Trump’s approval for a coordinated attack ahead of the Israeli vote but failed to secure the necessary authorisation.
Netanyahu’s office rejected the report, dismissing the claims as “fake news”.
The reported disagreement comes as American military planners prepare for operations that could extend well beyond limited strikes on Iranian missile systems, potentially targeting the country’s energy infrastructure, military installations and nuclear facilities.
Washington’s Military Preparations Go Far Beyond Limited Strikes
According to American officials cited by CNN, the military assets required for potential operations against Iran have already been deployed across the region, placing US forces in a position to act rapidly if Trump authorises an attack.
The Pentagon’s preparations reportedly include a wide-ranging list of potential targets, suggesting that Washington is considering an operation substantially broader than strikes against radar installations and missile launch platforms.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), working alongside senior Defence Department officials, has assembled an extensive target list covering Iranian energy infrastructure, military facilities and nuclear installations.
Such an operation would carry consequences extending beyond Iran’s military capabilities, particularly if strikes were directed against infrastructure central to the country’s energy sector.
Some American officials reportedly believe the question is increasingly one of timing rather than whether Trump will ultimately authorise military action.
According to CNN’s sources, an attack could take place before the end of the year, although the period following the US congressional midterm elections on 3 November is considered the more likely window.
No final American decision to launch another round of strikes has been publicly announced.
Netanyahu Wanted an Earlier Attack. Washington Had Other Plans
While Washington was preparing its military options, Israel had reportedly been moving towards a confrontation of its own.
CNN reported that Israeli officials had been preparing fresh attacks against Iran in recent days and had approached their American counterparts seeking support and direct participation.
Netanyahu reportedly attempted to persuade Trump to approve a joint operation before the Israeli elections.
However, Trump and other senior American officials urged Israel to delay its plans, indicating that coordinated US-Israeli military operations could be considered at a later stage.
The reported intervention suggests that Washington’s objections centred at least partly on the timing and coordination of an attack rather than an outright rejection of military action against Tehran.
For Netanyahu, the proposed timetable also reportedly carried domestic political implications.
An Israeli security source told CNN that one reason Trump withheld approval involved a warning communicated by Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir to General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Zamir reportedly warned that launching the operation could force the postponement of Israel’s elections.
The warning introduced another complication into an already sensitive decision, placing the potential domestic political consequences of military escalation alongside the operational considerations facing Washington and Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Depleted Missile Defences Could Be Driving the Delay
Israel’s willingness to postpone further attacks may also reflect its dependence on American military support, particularly in missile defence.
According to the report, Israel’s defensive equipment reserves have been significantly depleted during the war, leaving it increasingly reliant on US assistance to withstand potential Iranian retaliation.
That vulnerability could help explain why Israeli officials appear prepared to accommodate Washington’s preferred timetable despite Netanyahu’s reported interest in an earlier attack.
American intelligence assessments have also warned that Iran and Yemen’s Houthi movement could respond to renewed strikes by targeting US forces and facilities across the Middle East.
Such retaliation would expose American military installations and personnel to direct threats, potentially expanding the confrontation beyond its initial targets.
The prospect of attacks on US assets has therefore become part of the military calculations surrounding any joint operation.
For Israel, American involvement would offer more than additional offensive capabilities. It could also provide critical defensive support in the event that Iran responds with another wave of attacks.
US Intelligence Questions Netanyahu’s Strategic Objective
Beyond the question of when an attack might occur, American intelligence officials have reportedly raised concerns about what Netanyahu and his political allies ultimately hope to achieve.
Recent US intelligence assessments cited by CNN suggest that the Israeli leadership has not established a clearly defined strategic objective for another confrontation with Iran.
Instead, the assessments indicate that Netanyahu and his allies appear focused on demonstrating further military progress while continuing efforts to weaken the Iranian government.
That distinction raises questions about the political and military purpose of renewed strikes, particularly as Washington considers an operation that could involve Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
The assessments suggest a potential gap between the ability to inflict military damage and the existence of a clearly articulated long-term strategy.
For American planners, the uncertainty comes alongside intelligence warnings that Iranian retaliation could place US personnel and installations throughout the region at risk.
Israeli Officials Deny Plans for a Pre-Election Attack
Despite the details contained in CNN’s reporting, senior Israeli officials have publicly rejected suggestions that an attack on Iran was being prepared ahead of the elections.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz denied that there were plans to strike Iran before the vote.
He also dismissed reports of disagreements between Israel’s political leadership and military command over the Iranian issue, describing them as “completely fabricated”.
However, Katz did not address questions surrounding the possibility of steps that could trigger unintended escalation or military miscalculation.
His comments follow reports of tensions between Netanyahu and senior Israeli military officials over how and when to proceed against Iran.
For now, the central uncertainty remains Trump’s decision.
American forces have reportedly been positioned for a rapid and potentially extensive military operation, while Israel has been urged to delay its own plans in anticipation of possible joint action.
Whether that coordination ultimately leads to another round of US-Israeli strikes remains unresolved.
What CNN’s reporting makes clear is that the military preparations described by its sources are not confined to a limited confrontation. They include options for a far-reaching offensive against Iranian military, nuclear and energy infrastructure, with American intelligence already warning that the consequences could extend across the Middle East.
