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The Financial Times reported that Netanyahu originally planned to launch a major attack against Iran, but it was postponed due to Trump’s opposition to starting a war before the US midterm elections. Whether it will be restarted in the future still depends on negotiations and the political situation.
The Financial Times exclusively reported on the 21st,israel Prime Minister Netanyahu is pushing to restore relationsiran launched a massive attack, and earlier this month directed the military to plan a new wave of major attacks that could plunge the Middle East into full-scale war again.
Three people familiar with the matter said the Israeli military was originally scheduled to launch a multi-day bombing campaign on the weekend of the 10th to attack civilian infrastructure such as power plants, as well as nuclear facilities and Iranian regime targets. The intensity of the attack will exceed the joint strike launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February this year. However, due totrump This plan was ultimately not implemented, as opposed to resuming the war before the US midterm elections on November 3.
Despite this, Trump and Netanyahu, who face a tough election battle again next week, continue to threaten to launch new attacks against Iran and claim that the United States and Israel must complete “unfinished business” against the Iranian regime. It is unclear whether the United States originally planned to directly participate in the bombing, but a person familiar with the matter believes it is “not an unreasonable scenario” for the United States and Israel to resume attacks in the coming weeks.
The person said: “Either reach an agreement or launch an attack.” These comments imply that the United States hopes to force Iran to reach an agreement with the United States on the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program in order to end the war completely.
An Israeli official said that US Defense Secretary Jesus visited Israel on the 19th and held talks with Netanyahu and other senior officials. Another person familiar with the matter said Israeli officials have proposed an updated list of Iranian targets based on new intelligence, including civilian infrastructure that was not attacked earlier this year. However, another person familiar with the matter said the strike proposed by the Israeli military earlier this month may also be a move to “put pressure on Iran” in the negotiations. Ultimately, whether to launch a new round of attacks still depends on Trump.
“The United States will not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections,” White House deputy spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the Financial Times. However, the Israeli military has been on high alert for several weeks, and it is rare for the entire military to be furloughed in the run-up to the 22nd to 27th congressional elections. Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the move was to “ensure that democratic elections can be held safely and on schedule.”
A new round of attacks on Iran could draw Israel, U.S. forces and Persian Gulf Arab states into war and send energy prices higher. Trump is facing political pressure to reduce fuel costs ahead of the midterm elections. Israel will also hold its first congressional elections on the 27th since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Most mainstream opinion polls in Israel show Netanyahu’s far-right coalition trailing the opposition camp by a narrow margin, but no party has yet won a clear majority.
Current and former Israeli security officials are concerned that starting a war before or after the elections could have a serious impact on the democratic process. Forming a new government is expected to take several weeks of difficult negotiations. Even if Netanyahu loses the election, he will remain transitional prime minister and retain the legal right to wage war, although that right could be disputed. In Israeli history, there is almost no precedent for starting a war during the transitional period after losing an election.
It is unclear how current Israeli security chiefs will respond to calls to resume full-scale military action against Iran in the coming weeks. A person familiar with planning to attack Iran said that for Netanyahu’s government, “all options are on the table.” “Whatever happens, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Summary FAQ
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According to reports, the Israeli military was originally scheduled to launch a massive bombing campaign lasting several days, targeting civilian infrastructure such as power plants, nuclear facilities and Iranian regime targets. Its intensity may be greater than the combined attack in February this year.
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According to people familiar with the matter, Trump opposed resuming the war before the US midterm elections on November 3, so the plan was postponed; The White House also made it clear that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections.
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A new round of attacks could draw Israel, US forces and Persian Gulf Arab states into the conflict. It could also increase energy prices and seriously disrupt Israel’s domestic elections and democratic processes.
