Israel ready to strike Iran with US, but specific joint goals remain unclear, source tells 'Post'

The IDF is ready to strike Iran if US President Donald Trump asks it to join the American air force in an operation after the November 3 midterm elections, but a wide cloud of uncertainty is hovering over the situation, The Jerusalem Post understands.

Part of what is making this attack more likely after Trump pulled out of prior threats to attack in August, earlier in October, and at other times in 2026 is that other methods have been tried to obtain Iranian concessions and some of Trump’s team is shifting back toward attacking, the Post has learned.

At earlier points in the war, and in August and October, many of his top advisers, including, critically, sometimes US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, were skeptical about the utility of attacking. There are sources who push back on this and some of the below characterizations of positions of Trump officials regarding the conflict with Iran.

At certain times, Caine and others were also more worried about a lack of readiness in terms of interceptors, defense capabilities for US forces and allies in the region, and the placement of critical military assets.

Trump and many of his non-military advisors were also worried about the impact of an additional round with Iran, which is hugely unpopular in the US, on the Republican Party's chances in the midterm elections.

But once the midterms pass – and with Caine now shifting gears to believing Iran will not meet the US president’s minimum goals regarding the nuclear and Strait of Hormuz standoffs absent additional military pressure – the main bars to the use of force will have been removed, according to sources. There are those who push back on attempts to characterize the US military as having shifted, concerned that this could be to further an over-aggressive agenda.

US increases military presence in Israel, Middle East

Over the past week, more than 10 US military transport aircraft arrived at the Nevatim and Uvda air force bases in the South, seeming to set the table for a serious operation.

There have also been reports of US air defense systems and interceptors being moved to Israel and to other Arab allies.

But there are still fewer US forces in the region than there were in previous periods.

Yet, this is only the starting point.

There are disagreements between the US and Israel about what the goals of such an operation would be.

Mossad, IDF appear to disagree on targets of renewed fighting with Iran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to talk about regime change, and Mossad Director Roman Gofman is working hard on plans to advance that goal, according to sources.

In contrast, the IDF’s focus tends to be on specific threat reduction items.

These could include the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, some kind of attempt to reduce the threat that the regime could recover its 60% highly enriched uranium under the rubble of three previously bombed nuclear sites, any newly opened sites relating to the weapons group, new or repaired ballistic missile production sites, and strategic weapons, such as possibly space-related weapons.

Top Israeli officials have also publicly threatened to strike Iran’s top energy facilities.

It is unclear whether they will include assassinations of top Iranian officials, given that Israel has killed dozens of top Iranian officials twice since June 2025, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top figures in the regime maintained a hardline stance afterwards.

There has been less public discussion about targeting Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the ayatollah, and the regime’s current ruler.

Key goal for US is keeping any conflict short

Trump is much more focused on achieving some concessions on the nuclear issue and opening Hormuz.

Even in the past Iran operations, the US avoided assassinating top Iranian officials.

Next, US officials are highly concerned about keeping any new operation against Iran time-limited, possibly as short as a few days.

In contrast, even if Israeli officials do not want another 40-day war, they also have not talked about keeping the operation as short as Washington has emphasized.

Trump’s public comments have focused on sending a brief message to Iran to advance nuclear negotiations.

Israeli officials’ public comments have emphasized bringing a longer-term end to the threats posed by Tehran by using extensive kinetic force.

US Joint Chiefs Chairman concerned short campaign won't achieve Trump's goals

Caine remains worried about Iran pushing the war for longer than Trump wants – the regime does not need to stop firing ballistic missiles all over the region just because the US stops bombing, the Post understands.

But, according to sources, Caine believes this risk must be swallowed given the absence of any sign that Iran will cut a deal at any discernible point simply based on economic pressure.

He is not at all sure that another short military campaign will get to Trump’s goals, but believes it is one of the last things left to try, the Post understands.

Caine also remains firmly against trying to achieve regime change, which he still believes is a pipe dream – at least at this stage, regardless of the harm that America can inflict on the Iranian economy.

Spokesperson for the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Holstead responded, “We do not discuss the chairman’s confidential conversations with the president, the secretary of war, or other senior leaders, nor do we comment on anonymous, agenda-driven characterizations of those conversations by sources who were not privy to them.

“The chairman provides the president, secretary of war, and National and Homeland Security Councils with his best military advice and recommendations, along with all associated risks, candidly and confidentially,” he added.

The Post sought comment from the White House and the Pentagon, but had not yet received responses at press time.