Trump prepares Iran escalation after U.S. and Israeli elections

President Donald Trump is preparing to escalate the Middle East war against Iran, which he previously said would end in weeks but is now entering its eighth month, with strikes potentially resuming after the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3. Trump has sent a third aircraft carrier strike group and 10,000 additional sailors and Marines toward the Persian Gulf to expand military options. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel last week, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel's sensitive reelection bid, while staffing at Mideast bases hit by Iranian counterstrikes has reportedly been reduced. The war, launched by the U.S. alongside Israel, has faced significant Iranian retaliation, complicating U.S. operations in the region. The timing of any escalation aligns with both U.S. and Israeli political calendars, suggesting strategic considerations beyond immediate military objectives.