Israeli intelligence has concluded that, even after the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group – which was recorded passing near Crete yesterday – they have limited military capability for a .
This was reported by Britain’s Financial Times on Tuesday, citing an Israeli intelligence official who said the US could conduct an intensive air campaign lasting only four to five days, or lower-intensity attacks for about a week.
The publication comes as the American press is witnessing a number of reports on the relevant warnings that the chairman of the US General Staff has allegedly issued to President Donald Trump, as well as on the concerns prevailing in Washington about a protracted war with Iran that would cause casualties and huge economic costs.
Meanwhile, amid the possibility that Iran’s “proxy” organizations in the Middle East — mainly Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen — could become involved in the clashes, Reuters reported, citing two senior Lebanese officials, that Israel sent a message to the Beirut government warning: “We will hit political infrastructure if Hezbollah intervenes.”
Trump frustrated by restrictions on military action in Iran
CBS News reported that the US president is expressing “increasing frustration” with the “limitations that exist on military power vis-à-vis Iran,” as described by his advisers. According to officials, Trump is pushing for those military options that would be tough enough “punishment” to shock Tehran’s leadership and bring it back to the negotiating table on terms favorable to Washington without leading to a wider regional war.
Trump, according to CBS, wants a “dramatic show of force” against Iran, but senior US military commanders are warning him that wars “rarely go according to plan” and that even targeted strikes can have unintended consequences.
In fact, the president of the USA, in a post on Truth Social, appeared to want to distance himself from reports about the “limitations of American military power”. In it, Trump dismissed as false reports that cited warnings from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Cain about limitations on military action against Iran.
Trump called Kaine a capable commander representing the world’s most powerful military and argued that Kaine was not opposed to an attack or in favor of limited casualties, but was focused on victory. He added that he still favors a deal with Iran, but warned that otherwise it would be a “very bad day” for the country.
The president said Kaine, like others in his administration, prefers to avoid war, but believes that if a military strike is given the go-ahead, victory will be easy. Trump also claimed that Kaine was responsible for Operation Midnight Hammer, the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming that the program was destroyed by US B-2 bombers.
He also stressed that reports of a possible war with Iran are deliberately inaccurate and that he alone makes the decisions about Iran. He warned that if no deal was reached, it would be a “very bad day for Iran” and, unfortunately, for its citizens, whom he called “a good people who should not suffer such consequences.”
The State of the Union
The latest reports on Iran come as preparations wrap up for Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress later Tuesday (04:00 GMT), where he is expected to address — among other things — the possibility of an attack on the Islamic Republic.
Trump’s approval ratings are at a low point ahead of November’s midterm elections, and the speech is an opportunity to convince voters that Republicans will retain control of the House and Senate.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security is understaffed because of the political standoff in Congress over the administration’s immigration policy, which escalated after the killing of two American citizens in Minneapolis.
At the same time, the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to preoccupy the US and internationally, with Trump finding it difficult to get out of her frame after the disclosure of the investigation files on Epstein, with whom he had close relations in the past.
Despite Trump’s desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, US officials told Reuters the president appeared to be moving closer to a military confrontation with Iran.
Two White House officials said Trump would announce his plans for Iran in the State of the Union address, without elaborating, while highlighting his successes in peace deals.
Student protests in Iran
Meanwhile, in Iran, the regime is preparing to crack down on ongoing student protests at Tehran University. Iran International published a night photo of a machine gun positioned near the site of the protests, claiming it was a preparation by local forces for a violent crackdown.
Iran’s government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said: “Students have a right to protest, but we must all recognize the red lines. Sacred sites and flags are red lines that must not be violated, even at the height of rage. The right path is effective dialogue and logic, not anger and aggression.”
