Two Israeli officials stated that an expanded U.S. military campaign targeting Iranian strategic infrastructure and senior regime officials would likely prompt Tehran to retaliate directly against Israel. This assessment comes as the U.S. military completed its latest round of strikes on Iran, marking a 12th successive night of American attacks against the hostile regime. Israeli officials believe President Donald Trump is preparing to significantly escalate the American military campaign against Iran, a move with direct implications for the Jewish state's security.
U.S. Central Command reported that American forces struck Iranian military targets, including maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites, and air defense assets. U.S. forces have targeted dozens of Iranian military sites on land in July, while resuming a blockade against Iran at sea. The latest U.S. strikes lasted five hours, demonstrating sustained pressure on the Islamic Republic's military apparatus.
Iran's Escalating Threat
The United States is increasing its available forces in the Middle East, preparing for the possibility of escalating the ongoing conflict with Iran. People familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that Trump is considering expanding his attacks on Iran, with added forces intended to provide more military options against the regime. U.S. officials informed the Journal that fighter jets have been positioned across the Middle East and bomber aircraft are on high alert, underscoring the gravity of the confrontation with Tehran.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump threatened that the U.S. will strike Iranian bridges and power plants in retaliation for every time Iran fires on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. He explicitly stated, "The US will bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran," adding, "from this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz." This firm stance signals a clear deterrent against Iranian aggression and its proxy forces.
Reuters reported that the Iran war began when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, in its first year, and Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. bases. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have since killed thousands and displaced millions, with U.S. troop deaths rising to 18 in recent days. This highlights the human cost of Iran's regional destabilization and its commitment to a rejectionist agenda.
The Axis of Aggression
Iran's joint military command warned that if Trump's threat were carried out, its forces would target regional oil, gas, electricity, and economic facilities. State media reported this warning followed Trump's threat to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants, revealing Tehran's willingness to target civilian-essential infrastructure. The broader regional context includes Yemen's Houthis, who have been targeting tankers in the Red Sea, adding another front to the conflict around Iran and demonstrating Iran's extensive proxy network and its integrated jihadist axis.
International Double Standards
Reuters also said the 1949 Geneva Conventions prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians. International law experts in the United States said in April that such attacks may amount to war crimes after Trump's threats. This immediate invocation of "war crimes" against a Western leader defending national security stands in stark contrast to the international community's often muted response to Iran's explicit threats against civilian targets. Reuters added that Trump's threat in April, in its third month, to destroy Iran's entire civilization also drew wide condemnation, showcasing the institutional bias against decisive action necessary to confront hostile regimes that openly threaten regional stability and Western interests.