Multiple sources have confirmed that the United States and Israel were preparing for one of the most significant bombing campaigns against Iranian energy infrastructure to date. These military strikes were reportedly under consideration as early as this upcoming weekend. However, President Trump stated at Camp David on Friday that he had decided to cancel the attack, suggesting that a resolution to the ongoing conflict could be imminent. "We'll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore,'" the president remarked.
The shift in strategy follows outreach from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who spoke with Mr. Trump earlier on Saturday. Reports indicate that the Crown Prince cautioned the president against initiating a new round of strikes, with sources noting that the communication was driven by concerns regarding the specific targets selected for the operation.
In response to the regional instability, several U.S. embassies, including those in Baghdad, Jerusalem, and Amman, Jordan, issued security alerts on Saturday citing heightened tensions. The State Department has advised Americans currently in the Middle East to maintain vigilance, warning that they should prepare for potential travel disruptions, including airspace closures and flight cancellations.
The current climate follows a period of escalating military activity. On Tuesday, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia conducted a joint operation targeting Iran-backed militants in Iraq. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that this action was a response to over 30 drone attacks by these militants against U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure, which were allegedly directed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Furthermore, CENTCOM reported that Iran launched a surprise ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East earlier on Tuesday, though all missiles were successfully intercepted.
While Israel had refrained from direct military operations against Iran following a June memorandum of understanding intended to halt fighting, that temporary ceasefire collapsed in early July, leading to a resumption of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
On Tuesday, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia said they had struck Iran-backed militants in Iraq in a joint operation. U.S. Central Command said that strike was in response to more than 30 drone attacks from those militants over the previous 72-hour period that targeted "U.S. forces and Saudi energy infrastructure," and that h
