US and Israel draw up plans for Iran strikes after midterms

What happened in US and Israel strike planning

The United States and Israeli militaries have drawn up detailed plans for a short, intensive wave of renewed air strikes against Iranian targets following the upcoming US midterm elections, according to US officials.

The military preparations coincide with a sharp deterioration in regional security. The US State Department has ordered non-emergency government personnel and their families to evacuate Saudi Arabia after a series of deadly strikes by Iran-aligned Houthi forces targeted civilian and energy infrastructure across the kingdom.

While President Donald Trump has stated that "something will happen fairly soon" regarding Iran, he has not yet given formal approval for the strike package, having previously vetoed proposals for major combat operations earlier this year.

Who is involved and what targets are planned

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel this week to hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over potential military responses. Both nations have stepped up joint military exercises in recent days, including strike manoeuvres flown over Iraqi airspace.

If approved, the planned offensive will focus on three primary categories of Iranian targets: nuclear facilities, energy infrastructure, and Tehran's missile and drone arsenals. Iranian officials have responded by threatening to expand retaliatory attacks to critical international assets, including regional data centres and undersea communications cables.

At the same time, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it would target US military bases across the Middle East if American forces continue guiding commercial tankers through mined waters in the Gulf.

Key details of recent regional attacks

The decision to pull diplomatic dependents from Saudi Arabia follows direct strikes on Saudi facilities that resulted in casualties. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the evacuation order applied specifically to Saudi Arabia, though broader diplomatic withdrawals across the region remain under consideration.

The Saudi Press Agency confirmed two deaths at the Shaybah oil facility following a drone strike, while maritime traffic faces severe risk near the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC naval forces claimed to have struck four vessels engaged in ship-to-ship oil transfers, while three additional vessels caught fire after hitting sea mines.

What happens next

Despite persistent military clashes and maritime disruptions that pushed Brent crude above $110 a barrel, commercial tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz have temporarily recovered toward pre-war levels. However, with indirect nuclear and diplomatic negotiations stalling and US forces repositioning assets, military planners are preparing for potential direct intervention once American voters head to the polls.