Netanyahu's planned large Iran strike shelved over Trump's objection, FT reports
In short
The Financial Times reported on 21 October that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned a large multi-day bombing of Iran from 10 October, but US President Donald Trump opposed it and it was not carried out. The White House said the US does not plan to attack Iran before the midterm elections. A separate New York Times report, relayed on 22 October, said US and Israeli forces have drawn up plans to strike Iran after the midterms.
Read the full story 2 min read
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned a large-scale air campaign against Iran in early October, but US President Donald Trump opposed it and it was not carried out, the Financial Times reported on 21 October, according to Yonhap and Asia Economy. CBS NoCut News dated the FT report 20 October. The FT cited multiple sources. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to those sources, the Israeli military prepared a bombing operation to begin on 10 October and last several days. Targets were to include power plants and other civilian infrastructure, nuclear facilities and targets linked to the Iranian regime. The sources said it was designed to be stronger than the joint US-Israeli operation that began in February. Israeli officials had prepared an updated target list that included civilian infrastructure left out earlier this year. [ 1 , 2 ]
The FT's sources said Trump objected because he did not want the Middle East conflict to widen into full-scale war before the US midterm elections. The outlets said an attack on Iran could draw in US forces and Arab states and push up energy prices. The White House said the US has no plans to attack Iran before the midterms and that its economic and military pressure on Iran is already working. Israel's prime minister's office and military declined to comment, and the US Defense Department did not immediately respond. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap said Israel votes on 27 October and the US holds its midterm elections on 3 November. It said Netanyahu is reported to be slightly behind the opposition in major polls and that analysts suggested he wanted to use tension with Iran to rally supporters. Former and current Israeli security officials were quoted as worried that starting a war close to an election could seriously harm democratic processes. [ 1 ]
The Israeli military has cancelled troop leave from 22 to 27 October. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the step is meant to let the election be held safely and on schedule. Netanyahu and Trump have both said the matter must be finished, and one FT source called a resumption of attacks within weeks a scenario that cannot be ruled out. [ 1 , 2 ]
On 21 October the New York Times reported that US and Israeli military authorities have drawn up concrete plans to attack Iran again after the midterms. Likely targets are energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and missile and drone forces, and oil facilities are reportedly to be avoided to keep energy prices stable. Some officials believe one more large attack could push Iran's economy to a breaking point and lead to diplomatic concessions. Chosun Ilbo noted that many observers doubt a new campaign would achieve more than the earlier one, and that it is uncertain whether Trump would approve one. [ 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
Israel votes on 27 October and the US holds midterm elections on 3 November, and the outlets link both governments' Iran decisions to those dates. The documents say tension is expected to continue, with both leaders keeping the option of renewed attacks open.
Key facts
- The Financial Times, citing multiple sources, reported that the Israeli military prepared a multi-day bombing operation against Iran from 10 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Targets were to include power plants and other civilian infrastructure, nuclear facilities and targets tied to the Iranian regime. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The operation was not carried out because Trump opposed it ahead of the midterm elections, according to the FT's sources. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The White House said the US has no plans to attack Iran before the midterms. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Israel's prime minister's office and the Israeli military declined to comment. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Israel holds a general election on 27 October; the US midterm elections are on 3 November. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The New York Times reported on 21 October that US and Israeli military authorities have drawn up concrete plans to strike Iran again after the midterms. [ 5 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The FT reported that the Israeli military prepared a large, multi-day bombing operation against Iran from 10 October that was not carried out because of Trump's opposition. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The White House said the US does not plan to attack Iran before the midterms. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Israeli military has cancelled troop leave and kept an unusual state of alert around the election period. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The NYT reported that US and Israeli forces have plans to strike Iran again after the US midterms, with energy infrastructure, nuclear sites and missile and drone forces as likely targets. [ 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Date of the FT report Documents 1 and 2 say the FT report was published on 21 October local time; document 3 says 20 October.
- Whether the US planned to take part directly in the shelved operation Document 2 says this was not confirmed.
- Purpose of the early-October plan One FT source said the operation may have been a means of pressuring Iran in negotiations; this is a single-source view in document 2.
- Whether renewed strikes would achieve their aims Document 6 says many observers are sceptical, and document 5 cites the NYT questioning whether a resumed war would bring a significantly different result from the earlier phase.
- Who reported the Israeli aircraft flight toward the Iranian border Document 5 attributes the 19 October flight to Axios, as an independent Israeli operation, and the NYT calls it an exercise by aircraft of both countries; document 6 cites Israel's Channel 12 and says Israel described it as a deterrence exercise.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap publishes its account of the FT report on 21 October. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy publishes its account, adding the White House statement and the Israeli military leave cancellation from 22 to 27 October. [ 2 ]
- CBS NoCut News publishes its account on 21 October. [ 3 ]
- Newsis reports that Netanyahu's push for a large strike was not carried out because of Trump's opposition. [ 4 ]
- On 22 October Newsis reports the NYT account of US-Israeli plans to strike Iran after the midterms. [ 5 ]
- On 22 October Chosun Ilbo publishes its account of the NYT report and assessments of limited effect. [ 6 ]