SRINAGAR: Israel has completed preparations for a possible resumption of military hostilities with Iran, while US Central Command chief Brad Cooper has presented President Donald Trump with military options for launching fresh attacks, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Saturday.
The newspaper said the Israeli military had finalised its offensive and defensive preparations, but the decision to resume fighting rested with Trump as Washington and Tehran continued negotiations.
Citing unnamed political sources, the report said Israel was approaching another potential round of confrontation with Iran, although Israeli political and military leaders did not have the final authority to initiate it. The decision would depend on whether Trump opted for a diplomatic agreement with Tehran or renewed military action in coordination with Israel.
According to the newspaper, Israeli preparations had moved beyond operational planning, with the air force conducting exercises involving dozens of fighter jets and aerial refuelling aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace towards Iran’s borders. The flights, intended to rehearse possible attack routes, had reportedly been conducted on multiple occasions.
Yedioth Ahronoth also reported that Cooper presented military options to Trump at a meeting attended by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine. No decision to resume military operations had been taken, it added.
Citing media reports, the newspaper said 10 US military transport aircraft had arrived at Israeli air bases in recent days, carrying military equipment as part of an airlift to the region. The arrivals coincided with continued US military reinforcements and preparations for a possible escalation.
The political sources cited in the report said Washington faced a major strategic question over the objectives of any renewed operation. They argued that attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear installations, missile systems and military infrastructure would not necessarily lead to the collapse of its government or a change in its policies.
The sources suggested that the US could instead use the threat of military action to press Tehran into accepting an agreement on terms more favourable to Washington.
They also maintained that an agreement which failed to address Israeli concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme, missile capabilities and weapons development would leave what Israel considers major security threats unresolved.
The report further warned that a renewed confrontation could extend to Lebanon if Hezbollah became involved, as it had during the previous fighting. Such an escalation could prolong the conflict and place additional demands on Israel’s air defence systems and stocks of interceptor missiles.
Alongside the military preparations, Yedioth Ahronoth reported progress in indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Qatar, with the aim of facilitating direct negotiations.
The discussions were expected to cover Iran’s nuclear programme, the Strait of Hormuz and economic incentives for Tehran. China and Russia could potentially act as guarantors of any eventual agreement, according to the newspaper.
The report said Israel’s challenge was not limited to preparing for another military operation but also involved ensuring that any action served its long-term security interests, with clearly established objectives, conditions for ending hostilities and desired outcomes.
The war began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, followed by a ceasefire in April. Fighting between Washington and Tehran resumed in July amid stalled negotiations.
