Trump weighing broader military campaign against Iran, US officials say

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump is expected to decide in the coming days whether to expand ongoing strikes against Iran into a full-scale war, Fox News reported, citing senior US officials. No final decision has been made, according to the officials, who said any new campaign would be far more intensive than operations under way since July 7 that have targeted Iran's military capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz and threats to commercial shipping. One US official said recent operations have largely avoided strikes near Tehran and on Iran's nuclear facilities, but that could change if the conflict widens. The same official said Israel would most likely join an expanded air campaign if Trump approved a significant broadening of the operation. US Central Command has positioned additional F-16 and F-35 fighter jets and KC-135 refueling aircraft in preparation for a possible expansion, and some US refueling planes have been redeployed to Israel. The preparations remain in a "preparation phase," the official said, noting that Washington has so far not detected the large-scale European airlift that would precede the deployment of B-2 stealth bombers. The Trump administration has previously sent dozens of additional refueling aircraft to Israel, according to earlier reports cited by Fox News.