U.S. and Israel Weigh Major Escalation Against Iran Following Midterms
A potential military escalation against Iran may unfold after U.S. midterms as a third U.S. carrier deploys to the region. Former Mossad official Oded Eilam suggests novel operations targeting Iranian leadership remain under consideration.
A potential military campaign against Iran could escalate significantly following the U.S. midterm elections, according to reports in the New York Post. Amid these assessments, a third U.S. aircraft carrier is making its way to the region, while President Donald Trump has warned that "hell could break loose." Concurrently, Oded Eilam, former deputy head of the Mossad's operations directorate, told the publication that another attack in the style of the pager operation remains on the table.
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is heading toward the Middle East to join two other strike groups already operating in the area: the USS George Washington and the USS George H.W. Bush. On Friday, President Trump stated in a radio interview that the war is "going to end soon," though he refrained from explaining how.
Meanwhile, sharp criticism has emerged in the U.S. over the unfolding plans. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a vocal critic of conflict with Iran, noted he was briefed on operational plans in the event that the U.S. resumes military activity and lambasted them as "insane," warning they would lead to a devastating escalation and undermine commitments to the rule of law. Murphy hinted the plans involve strikes on civilian infrastructure, adding they would protract and escalate hostilities.
Conversely, Republican Senator Roger Marshall, who recently met with President Trump, projects that the campaign would be resolved swiftly. Speaking at a campaign event, Marshall estimated that within days of the elections, it would be perilous to be anywhere near Iran.
Oded Eilam provided a striking perspective, arguing that unexpected twists and turns are the hallmark of Israeli strategy, and expressing absolute confidence that Israel has hidden cards up its sleeve. He referenced the September 2024 pager operation in Lebanon, which incapacitated numerous Hezbollah operatives and was described by then-leader Hassan Nasrallah as an unprecedented blow. Eilam outlined potential high-profile targets in Iran, including senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps figures, asserting that neutralizing the leadership in Tehran would trigger a massive psychological shockwave across the regime's ranks.
