New Delhi: US forces in the Middle East are ready to launch major military strikes against Iran, “within 96 hours of receiving an order” from President
Donald Trump, said a report in CNN. They quoted 2 senior US officials regarding the matter.
The news report claimed that enough US forces were already deployed in the region, to carry out the attack. However, President Trump has not yet decided whether to launch an attack or not.
The news report quoted a US official as saying, “It will be a big effort.”
The US military is reportedly preparing for a wide-ranging attack on Iran. This could go beyond strikes on Iranian radars, missile launchers and other military assets. This time the targets might include Iran’s energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities.
Trump may wait till US midterm elections
Both current and former US officials believe that a decision regarding fresh attacks on Iran would come before the end of the year. It is however likely that the US President Donald Trump would likely plan the attack, if any, after the midterm elections in the country.
However, officials also warned that Trump has previously seemed to favour certain military operations, but has backed out at the last moment.
A Pentagon official was quoted as saying, “The Department is a planning organisation, and it is to develop and execute military options, ordered by the President.”
Iran could “retaliate beyond region”
The US intelligence officials have warned that both Tehran and Yemen’s Houthis could retaliate if the US and Israel plan another round of attacks. Both Iran and Houthis are reportedly taking the possibility of renewed US attacks, very seriously, added the officials.
The US feels that if targeted this time, Iran and Houthis would not only attack US facilities in the Middle East region, but even beyond.
An October 23 memo, quoted by CNN, which was sent by the Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US intelligence had found that “Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel”. It further said that “plotting efforts had reached advanced stages in the Middle East and also certain other countries.”
The US intelligence however added that Iran and Houthis are unlikely to strike first. But they would definitely retaliate if the US and Israel launch an attack.
