The renewed preparations come as the US and Israel face the prospect of Iranian retaliation if hostilities resume
US forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch potentially major military operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Donald Trump, with sufficient military assets now deployed in the region to carry out the attacks, CNN reported, citing two US officials. Some believe an order could come before the end of the year, although the period after the November 3 US midterm elections is considered more likely.The renewed preparations come as the US and Israel face the prospect of Iranian retaliation if hostilities resume. An October 23 memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US intelligence had found that Iran had substantially increased efforts to target American personnel, with plotting efforts reaching advanced stages in the Middle East and other countries, CNN previously reported.
The potential targets include Iranian energy infrastructure, military installations and nuclear facilities, according to CNN. Recent US intelligence assessments indicate that Tehran and Yemen’s Houthi rebels are taking the possibility of fresh attacks seriously, according to sources familiar with the assessments cited by CNN. The preparations come amid growing indications that Washington could resume large-scale combat operations against Tehran, despite uncertainty over Trump’s final decision and continuing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.