War with Iran Seems Likely

Former IDF officials are warning that the threat of a military confrontation with Iran is closer than ever before. The Times of Israel reportsthat Israel is preparing for the possibility that war could break out within days. Although diplomatic talks are ongoing in Geneva, and Iran has agreed to certain guiding principles, the regime has yet to acknowledge all U.S. red lines — including suspending its nuclear program.

“We are much closer than we were before, but I remind you — a superpower does not go to war in a matter of days. There is a diplomatic path that must be exhausted,” said (former IDF Military Intelligence chief) Amos Yadlin, who now heads a national security consultancy.

Yadlin added that “many oppose the attack. The Pentagon is not clear what they want it to achieve. The president is very determined. The statement that all options are on the table is based on a credible military threat, which comes alongside the preparations off the coast of Iran and in the skies.”

Sources told the Axios news site on Wednesday that a potential US-Iran war would be a long, multi-week campaign, with a White House official putting the chances of a strike in the coming weeks at 90 percent.

It would likely be a joint US-Israeli operation, said the source, even larger than the 12-day Israeli-led bombing campaign last June. According to the sources, the war could come earlier than most people expect, and could be far larger than many anticipate. Iranian missiles in June killed 32 people and wounded over 3,000 in Israel.

Two Israeli officials also said that Israel is preparing in case war does break out. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has been building up its presence in the Middle East, with major aircraft carriers deploying to the region. Iranian media reported today that military exercises are being conducted in the Sea of Oman alongside Russia.

Tensions remain high and the outcome feels uncertain, but only the first round of talks has taken place this week. As Yadlin noted, there is still a diplomatic path that must be exhausted. The Fellowship and its supporters pray that the U.S., Iran, and Israel continue down this path and reach a resolution that avoids several more weeks — or even months — of fighting.