U.S. and Israel Draft Plans for Renewed Iran Strikes as Pentagon Repositions Forces

The United States and Israel have developed detailed plans for renewed military strikes against Iran following the November 3 midterm elections, according to American officials and briefings. The preparations unfold as American forces build up across the Middle East and the Pentagon quietly repositions personnel amid mounting concerns over potential Iranian retaliation.

The proposed blueprints outline a concentrated offensive potentially lasting three days. The campaign would target Iran’s nuclear facilities, missile and drone arsenals, and energy infrastructure. While some military planners believe a short, intense campaign could inflict enough damage on Iran’s economy to force concessions from Tehran, others question whether further strikes can break the ongoing diplomatic stalemate.

Ahead of any potential operation, American and Israeli forces have intensified joint exercises, including flights over Iraq rehearsing possible attacks. A substantial U.S. military buildup is expected to be in place by early November, bringing three American aircraft carriers, thousands of Marines, additional fighter aircraft, and special operations forces into the region. This expansion broadens available military options as the confrontation persists.

The timing follows a pledge by President Donald Trump not to launch new American strikes before the November 3 midterm elections. Trump has not authorized another offensive and could ultimately decide against moving forward.

The strategic planning follows an unannounced visit to Israel by War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda Air Base to discuss potential military actions against Iran. Hegseth confirmed the meeting while declining to disclose specifics of the conversation, though he emphasized that American forces remain prepared to execute further operations if ordered.

“We want to make sure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. We’re prepared to contribute any way necessary,” Hegseth told reporters, noting that while historic devastation has been inflicted on Iranian military capabilities, forces remain ready to go further if requested.

The diplomatic and military alignment was underscored when Trump endorsed Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. Trump explicitly warned that the United States and Israel would finish their campaign against Tehran unless the Iranian leadership rapidly changed course. Netanyahu later reinforced the joint stance during a conversation with Trump, affirming their shared commitment to completing the campaign.

Coinciding with these discussions, dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling aircraft flew more than 800 miles through Syrian and Iraqi airspace toward Iran’s western border in a major demonstration of military power. The aircraft ultimately turned back without entering Iranian airspace after following a route similar to previous strikes. Israeli officials characterized the maneuver as a show of force and deterrence, with Washington notified in advance.

Earlier proposals from Israel had envisioned a substantially larger offensive. Netanyahu reportedly sought a multi-day bombing campaign around October 10 to target nuclear facilities, power plants, and regime-associated sites using an updated target list based on new intelligence. Trump opposed resuming major hostilities prior to the midterms, and Israeli military sources have disputed aspects of the reported preparations.

As planning continues, the Pentagon has strengthened regional forces while reducing the exposure of troops stationed at vulnerable installations. American personnel have been quietly moved from bases in Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait as a precaution against possible retaliation, leaving smaller contingents behind to maintain air defenses and essential security operations. U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Timothy Hawkins stated that deployments are routinely adjusted to maintain readiness but declined to discuss specific movements for operational security reasons.

Diplomatic missions have similarly enacted security measures. The State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and eligible family members from Saudi Arabia amid ongoing attacks by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis, while other regional posts have restricted operations.

In Tehran, officials have threatened retaliation extending beyond traditional military targets, warning that another offensive could provoke attacks on regional energy infrastructure, allied facilities, data centers, and undersea communications cables. An Iranian security official stated that the regime was prepared for an all-out, multi-layered conflict, rejecting any notion that Washington could dictate the duration or limits of a confrontation.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited Tehran to revive mediation efforts, reportedly conveying an American warning demanding nuclear concessions or facing a large-scale attack, potentially targeting the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility. Deeply buried infrastructure at Pickaxe Mountain presents significant challenges for conventional bombing operations, though the site remains under consideration by planners.

The diplomatic impasse remains rooted in Tehran’s refusal to accept nuclear demands. The United States insists on eliminating Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, while Iranian officials demand an end to the war, relief from the American blockade, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz before engaging in substantive nuclear negotiations. Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, asserted that not a single gram of enriched uranium would be removed and demanded trust-building steps from Washington first.

Amid the standoff, Netanyahu has openly called for the overthrow of Iran’s ruling regime, directing the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad, and security branches to remove the threat once and for all under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump maintained that the United States has already devastated Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity through past operations and defeated the regime financially and militarily, emphasizing that Washington is determined to secure a lasting outcome to ensure Tehran never acquires a nuclear weapon.