The United States and Israel are preparing strikes on energy infrastructure inside Iran that could begin as soon as this weekend, multiple U.S. sources told CBS News, in what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns of the conflict so far. The plan was discussed during President Donald Trump’s Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, according to sources briefed later.
The Israelis have been notified and are coordinating with the United States, according to multiple U.S. sources, though the president has yet to give the final go orders for the strikes. Energy infrastructure including power plants and refineries would likely be targeted, two of the sources said. There were high-level U.S. discussions on Friday about cutting electricity across Tehran, though no decision had been made as of Friday afternoon.
Sources said there was discussion about trying to conclude the bombing by the time financial markets open Monday because of concerns about how the strikes would affect the U.S. and global economy, though an end point was not locked in. Some White House aides focused on politics were strongly opposed to the plan, one source said.
Trump told reporters at Camp David: “We’ll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.'” Asked about reviving diplomacy, he said: “I think we just want to win.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: “As President Trump said at his cabinet meeting today, the United States will win, and Iran will not have a nuclear weapon under his watch.”
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the Department of War is “locked and loaded, ready to execute the President’s directives at a moment’s notice.” A former U.S. military official said the value of hitting energy infrastructure would be to impact the Iranian military’s ability to provide services and effectively govern.
A joint operation would mark Israel’s return to combat operations, which it had halted during the U.S.-brokered truce. Iran has not hit Israel since the memorandum of understanding fell apart and the U.S. restarted combat operations in early July. An Israeli official told CBS News: “Israel is unaware of a decision to restart full military operations, nor has been requested of Israel to join any military actions against Iran.”
When Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met earlier this week, Netanyahu briefed him on three options for the war, including military strikes focused on land resupply routes. The U.S. has already struck bridges in the conflict that were dual-use, used by the military and civilians, a U.S. official said. Last week, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would bomb and destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for every attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the wave of strikes could be among the harshest to date and may begin over the weekend, targeting power plants and refineries. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has ordered fresh strikes on Iran to spur surrender, with an attack possible as soon as this weekend.
Sources: CBS News, The Jerusalem Post, CBS News Live Updates
Author: Middle East Desk
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