Israel has finalized its defensive and offensive readiness for a potential return to combat with Iran, according to a report from the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. While the Israeli military has completed its preparations, the decision to launch an offensive remains with President Donald Trump, as diplomatic efforts continue. Political sources indicated that Israel cannot unilaterally initiate a campaign, as the situation hinges on whether Washington chooses to pursue a diplomatic agreement with Tehran or orders coordinated military strikes.
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper has presented President Trump with military options for resuming attacks. These plans were tabled during a White House briefing attended by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, though no order to resume combat has been issued. In recent days, 10 US military transport aircraft have landed at Israeli airbases to deliver equipment, coinciding with broader American force reinforcements in the region.
The Israeli air force has moved beyond planning, conducting multiple long-range drills involving dozens of fighter jets and mid-air refuelling tankers. These exercises spanned Syrian and Iraqi airspace toward Iranian frontiers to rehearse potential strike corridors. Despite these preparations, a fundamental strategic dilemma remains regarding the lack of clearly defined US operational objectives. Striking Iranian nuclear facilities, missile infrastructure, and military assets would not guarantee government collapse or policy shifts, though Washington could use the threat of such actions to extract concessionary terms.
Regional escalation remains a critical hazard, with officials warning that Hezbollah could enter the fray, which would stretch Israeli air defences and deplete interceptor stockpiles. Concurrently, indirect contacts mediated by Qatar are exploring prospective terms regarding Iran's nuclear programme, the Strait of Hormuz, and economic incentives, with Russia and China as potential guarantors. Hostilities originally erupted on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes, before an April truce broke down into renewed exchanges in July amid stalled diplomacy.
