US forces are prepared to launch a major attack against Iran "within 96 hours" of receiving the order from US President Donald Trump, two US officials told CNN on Sunday.
While Trump has not made a final decision on whether to commit to major military action after the US midterms, officials said any attack that would be conducted would "be a big effort," going beyond prior US strikes against Iranian assets that can be quickly rebuilt, such as missile launchers and radars.
One source briefed on the matter told CNN that Israel had been preparing for possibly striking Iran, as well as lobbying the US to participate in the strikes.
However, US officials, including Trump, told Israel to hold off on attacking, likely until after the midterm elections.
“The plans are ready, waiting for Trump’s approval, could be after the midterms,” the source said.
Iran, Houthis unlikely to preemptively strike, but ready for retaliation
Two other sources told CNN that both Iran and the Houthis were taking the possibility of renewed US attacks very seriously, according to US intelligence.
Any attack launched by the US - or Israel - would trigger immediate retaliation against US personnel and facilities in the Middle East, the sources added, which is one of the reasons the US is expected to withdraw more personnel from its embassies in the region.
However, one source familiar with US intelligence assessments said that officials believe that both Iran and the Houthis were unlikely to preemptively strike US or Israeli infrastructure at this stage.
The White House declined to comment, while a senior Pentagon official told CNN that “The Department is a planning organization, and its job is to develop and execute military options ordered by the President.”