U.S., Israel plan bombing of Iran energy targets

The United States and Israel are planning a bombing campaign targeting energy infrastructure in Iran, with strikes possible throughout the weekend, CBS News reported on Friday, citing multiple sources. The operation would mark one of the harshest escalations yet in the months-long war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.marketscreener+1

Strikes Await Final Orders

President Donald Trump has not yet given final approval for the strikes, which would target power plants and refineries across Iran, according to CBS News. The Israelis have been notified and are coordinating with the United States, sources said. There was discussion about concluding the campaign before financial markets open on Monday due to concerns about its effect on the U.S. and global economy, though no firm end point had been set.cbsnews

The military strike plan came up during Trump's Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, where some White House aides focused on politics were "strongly opposed," one source told CBS News. With reporters present, Trump said: "We'll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they're going to say, 'We just can't take it anymore'". White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that "the United States will win, and Iran will not have a nuclear weapon under his watch".cbsnews

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the Department of War would not comment on targets before a final presidential decision but added that it was "locked and loaded, ready to execute the President's directives at a moment's notice".cbsnews

A Joint Operation After Weeks of Tension

A joint U.S.-Israeli operation would mark Israel's return to combat operations, which it had halted during a U.S.-brokered truce. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday, July 27, where Netanyahu briefed the president on three options for prosecuting the war, including strikes focused on land resupply routes, a senior Israeli official said.axios+2

The planned escalation follows weeks of sustained U.S. military action. CENTCOM launched a "heavy wave" of strikes against Iranian military targets on July 30 after Iranian missile attacks on U.S. forces, and the New York Post reported Friday that CENTCOM had prepared a proposal for a decisive two-week bombing campaign aimed at crippling Iran's remaining missile infrastructure. There were also high-level discussions Friday about cutting electricity across Tehran, though no decision had been made.cbsnews+2