The United States and Israel have developed specific plans for renewed military strikes against Iran after the American midterm elections, according to reports, as both countries step up exercises widely seen as rehearsals for such an operation.
The New York Times reports that the two militaries have drawn up detailed options for strikes that would likely target Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and its missile and drone arsenal. In recent weeks, the two air forces have flown planes over Iraq to practise strike manoeuvres, the paper says, citing United States officials and other sources.
The planning comes with the midterms less than two weeks away. Election Day falls on November 3, and the timing suggests any decision on renewed action would wait until voters have had their say.
Israeli jets fly toward the Iranian border
In a parallel signal, dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets on Monday conducted a sortie that took them as far as the Iranian border, according to Axios. The operation took place on the same day United States defence secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though officials said the two events were not connected.
The developments add to an already volatile picture in the Gulf. Tehran has insisted it will not return to talks with Washington until its demands are met, a position President Masoud Pezeshkian repeated to Pakistan’s army chief this week, as reported here. Meanwhile, Brent crude has been whipsawed by attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
What a renewed campaign could look like
Analysts note that any renewed strikes would mark a sharp escalation from the limited exchanges seen earlier this year. Targeting energy infrastructure would carry obvious risks for global oil markets, which are already on edge after Houthi attacks on Saudi facilities and the mining of Gulf shipping lanes.
For now, officials on both sides are keeping their public language careful. But the combination of detailed planning, visible rehearsals and blunt warnings, documented in this roundup of the day’s reporting, suggests the region is entering its most dangerous phase in months.
