Washington weighs options from limited strikes to full-scale aerial campaign as U.S. forces mass in the region; Israeli military on high alert; Witkoff and Kushner head to Geneva for renewed nuclear talks.
The Israeli military was placed on high alert on Monday as the possibility of a United States strike against Iran moved from speculation to operational planning. Senior Israeli defence officials said that a decision in Washington was expected within days, though the precise timing — and whether any attack will occur at all — remains uncertain. The concentration of American air and naval forces across the Middle East has been described by Israeli officials as potentially indicative of imminent preparations, while also serving as a lever of diplomatic pressure on Tehran.
According to senior military officials who spoke with Haaretz, IDF commanders have been holding intensive coordination talks with their American counterparts in recent days, while simultaneously working with other regional partners to synchronise air defence systems capable of intercepting Iranian retaliatory launches. At this stage, Israeli authorities have opted not to alter civil defence instructions for the general public, with no emergency orders issued to the Home Front Command, hospitals, or emergency services beyond measured precautionary steps.
The reports of Pentagon unease emerged from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, which cited senior officials — including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine — as having warned Trump about the risks of a prolonged Iranian campaign. Concerns raised included depleted munitions stockpiles, limited allied support, the risk of U.S. casualties, and potential strain on air defences. President Trump swiftly rejected the framing, posting on Truth Social that such characterisations were "100% incorrect" and insisting that Caine views any military engagement as "something easily won."
Trump also left diplomatic avenues open, stating he would "rather have a deal than not," while making clear that failure to reach an agreement would bring severe consequences for Iran. The New York Times reported separately that Trump is likely to order a limited strike in the coming days to compel Tehran's concession on nuclear demands, and that should such a strike and continued negotiations fail, a larger campaign aimed at toppling the Khamenei regime remains under consideration for later this year. Targets being assessed range from Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters to ballistic missile and nuclear sites.
Israeli security officials privately assess that even a severe targeted U.S. strike would be insufficient to bring down the Iranian government. A prolonged aerial campaign lasting weeks would be required to meet the goals Trump has publicly stated. Israel has also detected the operational deployment of Iranian air defence systems, which Tehran has positioned in anticipation of a possible attack. Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned it would retaliate against U.S. military bases across the region if Iranian territory is struck.
Israel is also bracing for a potential Hezbollah response. Defence sources said that Friday's extensive IDF strikes in Lebanon were designed in part to degrade Hezbollah's capacity ahead of any flare-up triggered by a U.S. attack on Iran. The IDF anticipates rocket fire on northern Israeli communities but believes Hezbollah will seek to avoid full-scale escalation, given the severe damage sustained in the conflict that ended with a ceasefire in November 2024. Notably, the army has decided not to pre-emptively evacuate northern communities.
On the diplomatic front, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner are confirmed to travel to Geneva on Thursday for a new round of talks with Iranian representatives. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that a diplomatic resolution "is still within reach." Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing the Knesset, declared Israel "alert and prepared for any scenario," warning Iran of consequences "beyond anything they can imagine" should it choose to attack. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, speaking at the AIPAC conference in Washington, pledged cross-party unity: "There will be no opposition and coalition during war with Iran."
Source reporting: Haaretz / Ben Samuels & Yaniv Kubovich. Additional sourcing: The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times.