The United States and Israel are reportedly preparing for a new round of heavy strikes on Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, according to a Wall Street Journal report. As part of the buildup, an additional Patriot missile defense battery is being moved from Texas to Israel, based on flight-tracking data and officials cited in the report. U.S. forces are also said to be restocking munitions and getting bombers and fighter jets ready, and Washington has reportedly told several Gulf allies to prepare for a short and intense campaign. The White House declined to comment on sensitive military planning, and reports say President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, although he is said to be weighing strikes on Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites.

Iran has warned that it would answer any new attack with severe strikes on economic and civilian targets across the region, which is why neighbors are bracing. The current conflict began on February 28, and the two sides have since failed to keep a ceasefire, trading blows over the Strait of Hormuz. Reports say Iran has used the lull to rebuild its missiles and defenses, and some analysts doubt that a new round of strikes would achieve its goals. Trump has said he will not attack before the midterms, so the next few days are being watched very closely. The big questions now are whether talks can still pull everyone back from the brink and how far a new round of fighting could spread.