CBS News reported, citing people familiar with the talks, that national security officials told President Donald Trump that as of Saturday, the U.S. military was ready to carry out a strike against Iran, but the deadline for military action could be extended beyond the weekend.
Officials acknowledged that Trump had not yet made a final decision on carrying out the airstrikes, but said discussions within the White House were ongoing and changing, carefully assessing the risk of escalation and the political and military implications of any action or abstention. Over the next three days, the Pentagon will temporarily redeploy a large number of military personnel outside the Middle East, Europe and the United States in preparation for possible military operations or exposing U.S. forces to Iranian counterattacks.
National security officials have told President Donald Trump that the U.S. military is ready to carry out a strike against Iran starting Saturday, but plans for military action could extend beyond the weekend, according to a CBS News source familiar with the discussions.
While officials acknowledged that President Trump has not yet made a final decision on the attack, discussions within the White House are said to be ongoing and fluid, carefully assessing the risk of escalation and the political and military implications of taking or refraining from action. Over the next three days, the Pentagon will temporarily redeploy a large number of military personnel from the Middle East to Europe and the United States in preparation for military operations and counterattacks against U.S. forces from Iran.
