Overview
- In early October Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to prepare a multi-day air campaign that planners said would target Iranian power plants, nuclear sites and regime-related infrastructure.
- The operation was scheduled to begin around the weekend of October 10 but was called off after President Trump opposed reigniting major strikes before the U.S. midterm vote.
- The White House publicly ruled out U.S. strikes before the midterms while reporting leaves unclear whether Washington would have taken part directly or only supported Israeli plans.
- Israeli military leaders raised warnings and increased the country’s security alert level, and polls show large public skepticism about an attack timed before Israel’s election.
- Analysts warn that renewed strikes could prompt Iranian retaliation, wider regional escalation and oil-market disruption, and they say the issue could resurface after the U.S. and Israeli votes.