Trump speaks with Netanyahu shortly after discussing military operations with senior commanders

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. This discussion occurred after Trump deliberated with senior military commanders the possibility of resuming military actions against Iran. Israeli defense officials have been somewhat unclear about their preparations for a possible escalation with Iran, as the White House attempts to provide Iran with another chance to re-enter negotiations.

Defense experts believe that Iran, currently grappling with a worsening economic crisis, is unlikely to agree to a deal that would force it to completely abandon its nuclear program or cease producing ballistic missiles, which now pose a threat to Europe. Consequently, the assessment is that Iran is simply buying time. Reports suggest that Iran has been deliberately prolonging negotiations in the lead-up to the US midterm elections.

US and Israeli military leaders are preparing for potential strikes on Iran, but a war is unlikely to occur before the midterm elections unless there is evidence of a surprise attack. Additionally, Israel and the US have reportedly devised plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the midterms.

There are over 3,000 American troops stationed in Israel, and there was no significant increase in the number of US military aircraft redirected to the country during the previous week. This stands in contrast to the unprecedented deployment of US military refueling aircraft that filled the runways at Ben-Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport, as well as a substantial presence at Israeli Air Force bases.

On a related note, ten US Air Force transport aircraft arrived at Israeli Air Force bases in southern Israel last week, as part of a larger Middle East air convoy transporting military equipment across the region. The aircraft, which were dispatched from Texas' Fort Bliss base, may have been equipped with air defense systems intended to safeguard regional assets amid warnings from the US about a potential short, focused war with Iran. Other aircraft in the convoy landed in Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.