Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 8: The Pentagon has instructed the US military to complete preparations for a possible resumption of military operations against Iran, although President Donald Trump has not taken a final decision on whether or when to launch fresh strikes, according to US officials cited by Axios.
The directive has been issued to the US Central Command to ensure American forces are ready for potential major combat operations. No specific date has been set for any renewed military campaign, although officials said such action could potentially take place before Israel's elections later this month.
If military action resumes, US operations could focus on Iranian nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure and other strategic targets, according to the report. The development comes amid heightened tensions following the latest US-Iran conflict and continued pressure on Tehran.
A White House official told Axios that the United States was in a "very strong position", citing Washington's control of the Strait of Hormuz and what the official described as Iran's "collapsing" economy. The official also said Iran had been "decimated" and that the situation would go either "the easy way or the hard way".
The latest directive follows earlier reports that the Trump administration had asked the Pentagon to draw up contingency plans for renewed military action. US officials have indicated that military planning could include the possibility of operations before the US midterm elections in November, although no decision has been announced.
The developments come against the backdrop of a wider regional escalation. In Yemen, Iran-aligned Houthi forces have claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Saudi infrastructure, including airports in Riyadh and Abha.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport killed three people and injured 36 others. Two women, one Moroccan and one Algerian, were killed in the attack on Abha airport, while a Sudanese national was killed in the Riyadh attack.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attacks. Saudi Arabia subsequently launched retaliatory military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen, with the Saudi-led coalition reporting strikes on more than 80 Houthi military sites.
On Thursday, the Houthis separately claimed that they had launched a ballistic missile attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Saudi authorities had earlier confirmed that an attack on the airport had killed one person, but there was no immediate Saudi confirmation of the latest Houthi claim.
The escalating confrontation has raised concerns over the wider regional impact of any renewed US-Iran military action. Further strikes could affect Israel, Gulf security, energy infrastructure and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies. Oil prices rose sharply on Thursday amid concerns over supply disruptions and increasing attacks affecting shipping in the Gulf.
For now, the US military preparations indicate readiness rather than a confirmed decision to resume strikes, with the timing and scope of any possible operation still dependent on a decision by the Trump administration.