Trump may expand Iran strikes, Israel braces for possible retaliation

Israeli officials believe US President Donald Trump is preparing to significantly expand the ongoing military campaign against Iran, a move they assess could trigger direct Iranian retaliation against Israel, according to local media. The Jerusalem Post reported that a broader US campaign could target strategic infrastructure and senior Iranian officials.

Security Consultations and Contacts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a six-hour security consultation with ministers and senior defense officials on Monday night to assess the situation. Netanyahu briefly left the meeting to speak with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to an Israeli official. The report said CENTCOM had entered its 11th consecutive day of attacks, with approximately 1,000 targets struck over the previous 10 days.

Trump's Warning and Diplomatic Prospects

Trump said Tuesday that Iran was "desperate" to hold talks and warned that Tehran had "not seen anything yet." He also said the US would strike the Pickaxe Mountain area near Iran's Natanz facility "pretty soon" and "very heavily." One source told the newspaper that the prospects of a diplomatic solution were now "virtually nonexistent," while another cautioned that Trump had previously changed course at the last moment.