🟥 Update/Detailed: Senior U.S. officials told Fox News on Monday that Donald Trump, the American president, is expected to decide in the coming days whether to expand military operations against Iran and return to full-scale fighting…

🟥 Update/Detailed: Senior U.S. officials told Fox News on Monday that Donald Trump, the American president, is expected to decide in the coming days whether to expand military operations against Iran and return to full-scale fighting.

These officials emphasized that no final decision has yet been made.

They said that if Trump orders a return to broad military operations, the campaign would be “far more severe and more extensive” than the 10 consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes that began on July 7. According to Fox, these strikes have so far targeted mostly Iranian military sites associated with operations around the Strait of Hormuz. One of the officials also confirmed that U.S. forces have so far largely avoided striking areas near Tehran and Iranian nuclear facilities. The official said: “If full-scale war operations are resumed, this could change.”

According to Jennifer Griffin, Fox News’ senior national security correspondent, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) will likely prepare by dispatching additional fighter aircraft, including F-16s and F-35s, as well as KC-135 tanker aircraft, for any decision by Trump on expanding operations.

The official also confirmed reports about the transfer of additional U.S. military aircraft to the Middle East and said these relocations are currently “preparatory actions,” while military planners are waiting for Trump’s final decision. He said: “Part of these relocations is underway, but these actions are preparations before a final decision.”

The official added that air refueling aircraft are being transferred from other locations in the region and redeployed in Israel.

U.S. officials have not, to date, seen evidence of a large airlift across Europe that is typically carried out before the deployment of B-2 Spirit bombers or large-scale aircraft transfers directly from the United States.

The official said that some of the movements of tanker aircraft is linked to the departure of U.S. forces from Ben Gurion International Airport after the suspension of “Operation Al-Aqsa Wrath.” He added that the basing and deployment of tankers at Israeli military bases, if broad U.S. operations are resumed and Israel joins the air campaign, would provide greater protection than keeping them at military bases in countries bordering the Persian Gulf.

The official said: “All of these matters are currently under review and discussion,” adding that Israel will likely participate “if Trump decides to significantly expand the war.”