Jerusalem:Israel has completed its military preparations for a potential renewed confrontation with Iran, as reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. The preparations come as the United States military's Central Command chief, Brad Cooper, has presented options for resuming attacks to President Donald Trump.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the decision to escalate military actions remains with President Trump as negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue. Though Israel has prepared its military strategies, political and military leaders do not control the initiation of conflict, which depends on whether Trump opts for an agreement with Tehran or decides to resume attacks in coordination with Israel.
The report outlines that Israel's air force has already conducted flights involving fighter jets and refueling aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace towards Iran's borders, simulating possible attack routes. These exercises have reportedly occurred multiple times. Meanwhile, US military support is evident with ten military transport aircraft arriving at Israeli air bases, delivering equipment as part of an airlift amidst the ongoing US force reinforcements in the region.
Unnamed sources cited by the newspaper highlight the dilemma faced by Washington due to the lack of clear strategic objectives for a potential operation. They suggest military threats could be used to pressure Tehran into a more favorable agreement for the US, but stress that any agreement failing to address Israeli concerns about Iran's nuclear and military capabilities would leave threats unresolved.
There is also concern that conflict could spread to Lebanon if Hezbollah joins the fray, potentially prolonging hostilities and straining Israel's air defenses. Parallel to military preparations, the newspaper notes progress in indirect US-Iranian contacts mediated by Qatar, aimed at setting the stage for direct negotiations, which would involve discussions on Iran's nuclear program and economic incentives, with China and Russia possibly acting as guarantors.
The overarching challenge for Israel remains ensuring that any military action aligns with its long-term security interests, with defined objectives and conditions for concluding hostilities. The conflict initially began with US and Israeli attacks against Iran on February 28, followed by a ceasefire in April, and resumed fighting in July due to stalled negotiations.