According to a report by a media outlet, US forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch major military action against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Donald Trump, two officials citing the report said.
As per the report, US officials have been deployed in large numbers across the region to carry out attacks. However, Trump has not yet decided whether or not the new offensive would be launched.
In a media interaction, one US official said, “It will be a big effort.” Military leaders are preparing for operations that could go beyond limited strikes on Iranian radars, missile launchers and other military assets. The US military, Central Command and the Pentagon have lately been working on a wider list of targets, including Iran’s energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities.
A senior Pentagon official told reporters, “The Department is a planning organisation, and its job is to develop and execute military options ordered by the President.”
The preparations come against the backdrop of intelligence assessments by the US pointing to growing concerns about possible retaliation by Iran and Yemen’s Houthi rebels if Washington and Israel launch another round of attacks, according to sources familiar with the internal assessment.
Iran and the Houthis are taking the possibility of renewed US attacks seriously. If Iran is targeted, Tehran and the Houthis will quickly retaliate against American personnel across the region.