Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been pushing for renewed attacks and sought American support for an operation before Israel’s election.
By United with Israel Staff
Israel was preparing for the possibility of launching another round of strikes against Iran in recent days but held off after the Trump administration asked Jerusalem to wait for a potential joint U.S.-Israeli operation, according to a new CNN report, claims that Israeli leaders strongly denied.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been pushing for renewed attacks and sought American support for an operation before Israel’s election, two U.S. officials and an Israeli security source told CNN.
“Netanyahu really wanted and tried to convince Trump for a joint attack in Iran before the elections, and Trump did not give a green light,” the Israeli security source said.
According to CNN, however, the disagreement centered largely on timing rather than whether further military action should ultimately take place.
Israel had reportedly been preparing for possible strikes over the past week while lobbying Washington to support and complement the operation. President Donald Trump and other senior U.S. officials urged Israel to hold off, while signaling that the two countries could conduct joint operations in the near future.
Israel has since delayed its immediate plans and is instead building up for possible joint action with the United States, most likely after the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections, according to the report.
Israeli officials categorically denied that a pre-election attack had been planned.
“I state unequivocally that there was no intention by Israel to initiate an attack on Iran before the elections in Israel,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
“We made clear that if Iran attacks Israel, we will respond with great force, and all reports on the matter are completely false.”
The Prime Minister’s Office also rejected CNN’s report, calling it “fake news.”
Despite the Israeli denials, separate reporting indicates that U.S. preparations for potential renewed military action against Iran are already at an advanced stage.
CNN reported that American forces in the Middle East are now positioned to launch potentially major operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from Trump.
Two U.S. officials told the network that sufficient military forces have been deployed to the region to carry out the attacks, which could go significantly beyond the more limited strikes on Iranian radar systems, missile launchers and other assets that have characterized operations since Trump halted full-scale combat earlier this year.
“It will be a big effort,” one U.S. official told CNN.
Current and former U.S. officials familiar with the planning reportedly increasingly view another major operation as a question of when, rather than if, Trump will give the order. While an attack could come before the end of the year, the period following the U.S. midterm elections is considered the most likely window.
That assessment follows a report from The Hill earlier in the week that U.S. Central Command has already drawn up several options for follow-up strikes against Iran.
According to that report, CENTCOM has plans ready to execute if the White House gives authorization, with multiple strike options presented to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump was said to be keeping all options open until making a final decision.
Other recent developments have added to indications that both countries are preparing for the possibility of another round of fighting.
The New York Times reported that the U.S. and Israeli militaries have developed plans for renewed strikes after the American midterms and stepped up joint preparations for possible military action.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has repeatedly warned Iran and Israel’s other enemies against attempting to exploit the politically sensitive period surrounding Tuesday’s election.
“We have the readiness, determination and ability to strike our enemies at any moment necessary,” Netanyahu said during a recent visit to an Israeli Air Force base.
“I say to our enemies: Do not test us. You will receive blows much heavier than what you have suffered so far.”
Netanyahu has also denied previous reporting that Trump recently prevented Israel from attacking Iran.
“This report is not true, but I won’t get into correcting this biased report,” Netanyahu said last week when asked about the claim.
While the timing remains uncertain, preparations for another major confrontation with Iran appear to be moving quickly, with U.S. forces already in place and awaiting Trump’s decision.
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