Donald Trump Prepares For All-out War Against Iran; Muslim Nations Are Not Holding Back Either

Washington: War between Iran and the US is on the verge of erupting again. Both sides are engaged in massive preparations for this. The US has deployed a large number of aerial refueling-capable aircraft to Israel. According to reports, US President Donald Trump is preparing for a major campaign against Iran. A blueprint for new military plans has been presented to Trump in the Situation Room; these plans envision strikes that go far beyond current military operations. The scope of potential action is no longer limited to the Strait of Hormuz; the US now intends to bomb key Iranian sites and nuclear facilities. Although Trump has not yet made a final decision, US and Israeli officials warn that a large-scale war could break out in the coming days. Meanwhile, Iran is unlikely to remain passive.

What is the US planning?

This time, the US aims to inflict deep, internal damage on Iran. It intends to target Iran's power plants and, more significantly, its nuclear facilities. The US wants to destroy Iran's enriched uranium stocks so completely that they become irrecoverable. Another potential target is the underground site at Fordow (often referred to in the context of mountain sites), where Iran is suspected of developing nuclear facilities. According to an Axios report, Trump wants to inflict enough damage on Iran to force it to open the Strait of Hormuz and agree to other US conditions. The Wall Street Journal has also reported on this, noting that President Trump is engaged in serious discussions regarding the next steps with officials including Vice President-elect JD Vance, Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth, and Marco Rubio.

Are Dozens of US aircraft ready to hit Iran?

Additionally, around 30 US military refueling aircraft are stationed at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv. A similar number of aircraft are also deployed in southern Israel. Israeli officials told Axios that the US might deploy additional aircraft in the coming days. The presence of aerial refueling aircraft enables fighter jets and bombers to sustain combat operations for longer periods. The Trump administration has asked the Israeli government to make more such aircraft available; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may make the final decision on this matter.

What is hapening in the Conflict over Strait of Hormuz?

It is noteworthy that the conflict between the two nations over control of the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world's most vital maritime routes—is steadily intensifying. Both sides have been launching continuous attacks against each other over the past few days. Following the collapse of an interim ceasefire, there are no signs that the conflict will end soon. US Central Command reported conducting strikes against Iran for the seventh consecutive night, aiming to degrade its military capabilities. A statement released early Saturday indicated that the strikes targeted surveillance centers, military hardware, underground weapons depots, and naval military capabilities.

Is Kuwait also concerned?

Kuwait stated on Saturday that it was intercepting Iranian missiles and drones; however, a desalination plant was struck, causing a fire. This marked the second such attack in two days on the small desert nation, which relies on desalination for 90 percent of its drinking water. According to the Kuwait Fire Force, several personnel were injured while attempting to extinguish fires at two other locations caused by the Iranian attacks. Kuwait briefly closed its airspace due to the missile threat, and Kuwait Airways announced it was rescheduling most flights to and from the capital.

What did Iraq say?

Iraq stated that it had shot down a drone that was attacking the city of Erbil. Jordan’s state news agency, ‘Petra’, reported that the country’s air defense system shot down Iranian missiles, while the Bahraini government reported that air raid sirens sounded multiple times. According to Iranian officials, dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured in recent US attacks. Meanwhile, the US military has also confirmed injuries to more of its troops. Since the conflict began, Iran has effectively disrupted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, impacting the global oil market. On Friday, the price of crude oil rose above $86 per barrel, while the number of ships passing through this route fell to a three-week low.

Attacks on bridges and power plants in Iran?

Addressing US citizens on Thursday, US President Donald Trump stated that the US is moving towards major success regarding Iran and that the results would soon be revealed to the world. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, negotiations regarding the nuclear program were underway between the US and Iran. Trump is now facing mounting domestic political pressure to end the war and distance the US from the protracted West Asian conflict. Attacks have been carried out on bridges and power plants in Iran. According to Iranian state television, US airstrikes targeted several bridges in the southern province of Hormozgan. Iranian state media had previously reported that the aim of these attacks was to sever the link between the port of Bandar Abbas and the country's central region and the capital, Tehran to disrupt the road and rail links connecting them.

Did Iran Admit damage in US attacks?

For the first time, Iran has admitted that its power plants also sustained damage during US attacks. The Ministry of Energy appealed to residents of the southern provinces to conserve electricity, though it did not specify which facilities were affected. Iranian officials stated that 46 people have died and over 400 have been injured in recent US attacks. Eight people lost their lives in an attack on a bridge on Friday. Meanwhile, US officials reported that 13 additional US troops—comprising 10 Army soldiers and three Navy personnel—have been injured since Monday. Since the war began, 14 US soldiers have died and 427 have been injured.