Washington prepares Gulf for offensive against Iran after 3 November
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
The United States is asking several Gulf countries to prepare for a short, intense military campaign against Iran after the 3 November midterm elections. The White House has not confirmed these plans, while saying Donald Trump retains all options, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Washington has asked several Gulf countries to prepare for an offensive against Iran after the US midterm elections on 3 November, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by the Wall Street Journal on 27 October. The White House has not denied the preparations and said President Donald Trump was keeping “all options on the table” to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Wall Street Journal describes a short but intense military campaign, while the US military moves a Patriot battery from Texas and withdraws troops from bases exposed to Iranian fire. Donald Trump had nevertheless written on Truth Social on 8 October that there would be no attack on Iran before the elections, after saying on 9 September that the war would probably end “immediately after the election”.
The US preparations come after CENTCOM prepared strike options against Iran, announced on 26 October. They also follow threats to intensify the US offensive against Iran, made by Donald Trump on 25 October. The newspaper had already reported on 12 October that Iran was strengthening its defences, mobilising its supporters and threatening the United States and its Gulf allies with a wider response.
