---
title: "Israel Prepared Massive Operation Against Iran, but Trump Blocked Strikes Ahead of Elections"
description: "The Israeli military prepared a massive bombardment of Iran in early October, but Trump blocked the strikes until the November 3 midterm congressional elections. The White House confirmed this."
date: 2026-10-21T06:10:33.846Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/israel-prepared-operation-against-iran-trump-blocked-strikes
tags: [israel, iran, trump, netanyahu, us-elections, middle-east]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Israel Prepared Massive Operation Against Iran, but Trump Blocked Strikes Ahead of Elections

![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whispers into the ear of US President Donald Trump during an official meeting](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/21/izrail-gotovil-operaciyu-protiv-irana-no-tramp-blokiroval-udary/izrail-gotovil-operaciyu-protiv-irana-no-tramp-blokiroval-udary-1.webp)

## Key Points

- The Israeli military prepared a multi-day bombing campaign against Iran starting October 10, but the operation did not take place.
- Sources cite Trump's position, ruling out strikes before the November 3 midterm elections, as the reason for holding back.
- The White House told the FT that the US will not attack Iran before the elections.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Israel on October 19 and discussed an updated target list with Netanyahu.
- Israel is preparing for parliamentary elections on October 27, with the military on high alert.

In early October, the Israeli military completed preparations for a large-scale, multi-day operation against Iran, but its launch was cancelled. According to Financial Times sources, the bombing campaign was scheduled to begin on October 10 and surpass in intensity the joint US-Israeli offensive launched in February. The planned targets included nuclear facilities, Iranian regime sites, and civilian infrastructure, including power plants.

### Why the Strike Did Not Take Place

Sources cite the position of US President Donald Trump, who rules out resuming military hostilities before the November 3 midterm congressional elections, as the key reason for holding back. In a conversation with the FT, the White House explicitly stated that the US would not attack Iran prior to these elections. Nevertheless, one of the publication's sources suggests that strikes could resume in the coming weeks because, according to him, Washington aims to force Tehran to agree to the terms of an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear program.

### Hegseth's Visit and Updated Target List

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Israel on October 19 and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to one source, he was presented with an updated list of targets in Iran that included civilian infrastructure not previously targeted.

### Israel Against the Backdrop of Its Own Elections

Simultaneously, Israel is preparing for parliamentary elections on October 27. The military has been placed on high alert, and military leaves have been cancelled nearly a week before the vote; the Chief of General Staff explained this as necessary to ensure secure voting. Netanyahu, in turn, insists on resuming large-scale strikes against Iran and earlier this month instructed the military to plan a new major offensive.

### Risks for the Region and Economy

Sources emphasize that a new attack could once again drag the US and Gulf states into the conflict, as well as lead to a rise in energy prices. Against this backdrop, public statements by Trump and Netanyahu about resuming strikes on Iran maintain tension, although the immediate launch of the operation is currently blocked by electoral calculations in Washington.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Нетаньяху хочет нанести новые удары по Ирану, но Трамп против, - FT](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/netanyagu-hoche-zavdati-novih-udariv-iranu-1792561777.html) - Primary source: details of operation planning from October 10, White House stance, Hegseth's visit on October 19, Israeli elections on October 27. Based on anonymous FT sources.
- [Израиль вновь нанес удары по Ирану, включая Тегеран и ядерную площадку в Фордо. Иран нанес ...](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5/20250613-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8C-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%81-%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8B-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%83-%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%BB%D1%8E%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%8F-%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%8E-%D1%8F%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%8E-%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%89%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BA%D1%83-%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B4%D0%BE-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8D-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%8F%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BE-%D0%BE-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%8F%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%B2%D0%BD%D1%83%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B2-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B7%D0%B5) - Context: previous strikes on Iran (June 2025), unrelated to current October 2026 planning.
- [Нетаньяху не исключил нападения на верховного лидера Ирана Али Хаменеи. Трамп даст Ирану ...](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5/20250616-%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%87%D1%8C%D1%8E-%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B1%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%8F%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BB-%D0%BE%D0%B1-%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B1-%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%B4%D1%81-%D0%B2-%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5) - Context: Iranian missile strike on Israel and statements by the parties (June 2025), background for current tension.
- [Расплата Нетаньяху за проклятия Ирану: Тегеран не простит угроз](https://news.mail.ru/politics/72317150/) - Context: Netanyahu's public threats against Iran, matching the tone of the statements underlying the article.

## FAQ

### Why did the Israeli operation against Iran not take place?

According to sources, the reason was US President Donald Trump's unwillingness to resume military actions before the November 3 midterm congressional elections. The White House told the FT that the US will not attack Iran before these elections.

### When, according to sources, could the strikes have begun?

The Israeli military reportedly prepared a multi-day bombing campaign designed to start on October 10. The operation was not launched.

### What happened during Pete Hegseth's visit to Israel?

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Israel on October 19 and held talks with Benjamin Netanyahu; according to one source, he was presented with an updated list of targets in Iran, including civilian infrastructure.

### How is Israel preparing for its own elections?

Ahead of the parliamentary elections on October 27, the military has been placed on high alert, and military leaves have been cancelled nearly a week before the vote; the Chief of General Staff explained this as necessary to ensure secure voting.