U.S. officials have identified November 9 as a favorable date for a possible resumption of military operations against Iran, in part because a new moon that night will provide little to no moonlight, Fox News reported Thursday, citing senior officials.
President Donald Trump met with his national security team on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss whether to resume the war, the officials said. The new moon, which falls on Monday, November 9, creates especially dark conditions considered favorable for military operations.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that Washington would "make a decision" on resuming strikes. He asked whether the United States wanted to go further to ensure Iran's nuclear program is dead and will never be revived, adding: "I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to."
U.S. Central Command is finalizing preparations for a potential resumption of major operations against Iran but has not received a new directive from Washington, according to a U.S. official.
The report follows a New York Times report on Wednesday that thousands of American air and naval personnel, aboard more than a dozen ships and at bases across the Middle East and in the United States, are ready to launch major combat operations against Iran if Trump gives the order. According to that report, the U.S. and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenals.
Any renewed U.S. campaign would likely bring a renewed confrontation for Israel. According to Israeli estimates, Iran still holds hundreds of ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel.
