Axios says Pentagon forces have been ordered to be ready to strike Iran
The report, citing US and Israeli officials, says strikes could come before the US midterm elections on 3 November. Natna News could not independently verify it, and the White House has not confirmed any strike order.
Axios reported that Pentagon forces have been ordered to be ready to strike Iran, even though President Donald Trump has not taken a final decision on broad military action. The outlet cited unnamed US and Israeli officials.
According to the report, any strikes could come before the US midterm elections on 3 November, and before Israel’s election, which is expected about a week earlier. Trump’s national security team is said to have held extensive talks at Camp David on the war and on future strategy.
If an operation begins, the report says it would target Iran’s electricity generation, its development infrastructure and its nuclear facilities on a wide scale.
Israeli officials say the United States and Israel could co-operate in the strikes, and have voiced concern in advance that Iran could retaliate by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel.
Diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Qatar, have produced no movement. Qatar is said to be awaiting Iran’s answer on a new US nuclear precondition.
Trump has said the United States has placed what he called an iron wall of restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, and that the waterway is entirely under the control of the US Navy. He said Iran’s military capability is badly weakened, that any war would end very quickly and that oil prices would fall sharply. White House officials say all options remain available and that Iran’s economy is collapsing.
In related news, US Central Command (CENTCOM) published images of a US Air Force F-16 refuelling in mid-air from a KC-135 tanker while on operations in the Middle East. Air-to-air refuelling lets combat aircraft fly long distances and stay airborne for extended periods without landing.
Analysts say releasing the images now, as US forces raise their readiness in the region and the Strait of Hormuz remains unstable, is a deliberate signal of American air power and of a readiness to mount rapid long-range strikes if needed.
Natna News could not independently verify the Axios report. The White House has not confirmed that any strike order has been given.