U.S. Forces Could Launch Major New Strikes on Iran Within 96 Hours of a Trump Order, Officials Say

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (TodayViralUSA) — American forces in the Middle East are positioned to begin new and potentially large-scale military operations against Iran within 96 hours of an order from President Donald Trump, according to U.S. officials cited by CNN, as Washington and Israel prepare options for a renewed campaign that is widely expected to come after next week’s midterm elections.

Two officials said enough forces are now deployed in the region to carry out the attacks. Any new operation would likely go well beyond the limited strikes on radars, launchers and other quickly rebuilt Iranian assets that have continued since Trump halted full combat operations earlier this year. “It will be a big effort,” one official told CNN.

A broad target list, but no decision yet

U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon have been building a wide-ranging list of targets that includes Iranian energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities, according to the officials. They acknowledged that Iranian forces are now more familiar with American tactics, which could make it harder to destroy every intended target.

Officials said Trump has not made up his mind but appears to be leaning toward major action after the Nov. 3 vote, while cautioning that he has backed away from similar decisions at the last moment before. Some current and former officials described it as a question of when, not if, and said an order could come any time before the end of the year.

The White House declined to comment to CNN. A senior Pentagon official said the department “is a planning organization, and its job is to develop and execute military options ordered by the President.” Last week, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told ABC News that “the United States will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections.”

Joint planning with Israel

The New York Times reported last week that the U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up specific plans for renewed joint strikes, discussed during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Israel. Israeli sources told ABC News the targets would include petrochemical facilities central to Iran’s oil industry and nuclear sites, but not civilian infrastructure such as power plants.

According to CNN, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pressed for a joint attack before the U.S. election, but Trump did not give a green light and U.S. officials asked Israel to wait until joint operations could be mounted. Netanyahu’s office called that account “fake news.” Israel holds its own national election on Tuesday.

Risk of retaliation

Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran and the Houthi rebels in Yemen would likely retaliate quickly against American personnel and facilities in the region if attacked, sources told CNN. An Oct. 23 memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned that Iranian plotting against U.S. personnel has “reached advanced stages” in the Middle East and other countries.

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh is already under ordered departure, and officials expect other diplomatic posts in the region to be scaled back in the coming days. Nonessential troops slated for the next rotation into the Middle East have been told they will no longer deploy, a U.S. official said.

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper flew over the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday as the U.S. maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. Officials said oil prices remain elevated partly because of the threat of Iranian attacks on shipping, and one described the status quo in the strait as “untenable” over the long term.