US Army "Ready" to Launch "Wide" Military Operations Against Iran.. Within 96 Hours

Washington – Agencies: Two U.S. officials revealed that American forces in the Middle East are prepared to launch new military operations, potentially on a large scale, against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from President Donald Trump. The two sources added that sufficient forces are already deployed in the region to carry out potential strikes, and that the scope of the new U.S. military operations is likely to go beyond merely “mowing the grass” or maintaining the status quo by targeting radars, launchers, and other Iranian assets that can be quickly reconstituted, as had been the case since Trump halted full-scale combat operations earlier this year. One official told CNN that it would be a “major effort,” a view echoed by current and former U.S. officials, some of whom say the question is not whether Trump will order action but when, and that it could come at any time before the end of the year, most likely after the U.S. midterm elections. According to the officials, Trump has not yet made a final decision on what he will do after the midterms, but he appears inclined to order a major operation. However, officials also warned that Trump has previously seemed inclined toward certain measures only to back out at the last minute. The White House declined to comment. A senior Pentagon official told CNN in a statement that the department is organized for planning and its mission is to develop and implement military options directed by the president. Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran and the Houthis are taking seriously the possibility of new attacks by the United States and possibly Israel, according to two additional sources familiar with the matter. Sources familiar with those assessments said that “if the United States and Israel launch new military operations against Iran, Tehran and the Houthis are likely to respond immediately by targeting U.S. personnel and facilities across the region and possibly beyond.” An unclassified memo dated October 23 from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that U.S. intelligence found Iran had significantly increased its efforts to target U.S. personnel, and that planning efforts had reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries.