- Pentagon ordered CENTCOM to prepare for major combat operations.
- US-Israel joint forces reportedly planning largest attack on Iran.
- Potential targets include Iranian energy, infrastructure, and nuclear sites.
Amid the ongoing tension between the US and Iran, Iran is bracing for a potential major escalation by next month, with US-Israel joint forces reportedly preparing for what could be the largest attack of the conflict, which has been going on since Feb 28. The Pentagon reportedly instructed US Central Command several days ago to conclude preparations for resuming major combat operations in Iran, and military preparations are already underway.
According to Axios citing US officials, 'The United States is preparing military options for a possible return to major combat operations against Iran, and the Pentagon has instructed the US Central Command to complete preparations.'
However, the report did not include a specific date for launching strikes, and President Trump has not made any final decisions yet.
What the Pentagon Said
The Pentagon issued the directive several days ago, and if the order for major combat operations comes, the scale could be enormous. Reported targets could include Iranian energy facilities, critical infrastructure, and nuclear sites, meaning this would not simply be another limited exchange of fire but a major escalation in the conflict.
US and Israeli officials reportedly believe that renewed military operations could happen before the US midterm elections and potentially even before Israel's elections, which are scheduled a week earlier.
"The US is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. Iran has been decimated, and things will go one of two ways: the easy way or the hard way," the US official told Axios.
"President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States."
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This raises an important question. Is Washington really preparing for a new war with Iran, and could Israel join the United States in coordinated military operations? The report notes that if major combat operations resume, the US and Israel would most likely act together, with the Israeli military participating.
Meanwhile, US-Iran negotiations have reportedly made little progress, with Qatari mediators still waiting for Iran's response to a US counterproposal involving nuclear concessions. President Donald Trump has also spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu twice in just a few days.
This follows a multi-hour meeting held by Trump's national security team at Camp David on Friday to discuss the war and other issues. According to an Israeli official cited by Axios, part of that meeting focused on the possibility of resuming major combat operations against Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after the meeting that discussions centred on "long-term" foreign policy planning.
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"The discussion about possible resumption of major combat operations in Iran has increased. The chances of it happening before the elections are not high, but we don't rule it out. After the midterms, the chances of it happening increase significantly," a second Israeli official told Axios.
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However, preparation does not mean an attack has been ordered. The Pentagon says its responsibility is to develop and present military options to the president, and the final decision rests entirely with US President Donald Trump.
But the core message coming from Washington is clear. The US military is being asked to be ready.
Lastly, as the Pentagon is preparing, Israel is watching the next decision now that rests with US President Donald Trump, and only time will tell what happens next.