Commando raids or bombing campaign? Trump continues to weigh Iran strike options that could topple regime
Israel skeptical military action can destroy regime, wants strikes on missile program
The Middle East continues to wait with bated breath as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly still weighing potential strike options in Iran amid an ongoing military buildup around the country, while also calling on the regime to return to the negotiating table.
Israel is on high alert awaiting Trump’s decision. Israeli security officials are reportedly skeptical that U.S. strikes can topple the regime outright, and instead, are advocating for the destruction of the ballistic missile program – its main military tool to threaten neighboring states.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on Thursday that Trump was presented with a list of various military options, ranging from broad air campaigns to limited commando raids on nuclear facilities.
The president wants to create the conditions for “regime change” in Iran, two U.S. sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
Trump has simultaneously indicated that he remains open to a diplomatic solution, as regional allies have frantically tried to mediate with Iran.
“As the commander in chief of the world’s most powerful military, President Trump has many options at his disposal with regard to Iran,” said White House Spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “The president has stated he hopes that no action will be necessary, but the Iranian regime should make a deal before it is too late.”
According to various reports, representatives from Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia have tried, without success, to prevent the conflict they see as destabilizing the region.
In recent days, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijan have announced that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used in strikes against Iran.
The potential strike options for the U.S. military vary according to their intended goals. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing U.S. officials, a “big” option would be to conduct a massive bombing campaign to take out facilities of the regime and its Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) across the country.
A more limited option would be to limit bombing to symbolic targets at first, to raise the pressure on the regime, keeping the option of ramping up the strikes to force the regime to agree to dismantle its nuclear program.
Today, the U.S. confirmed the 4-ship Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group chopped into U.S. 5th Fleet-CENTCOM AOR.
— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) January 26, 2026
The “most advanced air wing in the fleet” joins forward-deployed squadrons of USAF F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, & A-10 Warthogs.
Details & sources: pic.twitter.com/a5a0EYxYaT
Other alternative actions include cyberattacks on Iranian banks or toughening sanctions, the officials said.
The NYT reported that another option would be to send U.S. commandos to raid nuclear sites in order to destroy the components that weren’t hit by “Operation Midnight Hammer” last year.
A campaign targeting regime sites and military targets could aim to destabilize the regime to the degree enabling forces within Iran to launch a coup against the elderly Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, the NYT added.
During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed just such a scenario, stressing that the power distribution within the regime is unclear.
“I don’t think anyone can give you a simple answer as to what happens next in Iran if the Supreme Leader and the regime were to fall,” he said.
“You are talking about a regime that has been in place for a very long time. So that’s going to require a lot of careful thinking, if that eventuality ever presents itself,” said Rubio.
Meanwhile, Israel’s security system has been preparing its defensive and offensive military capabilities, fearing that Israeli cities would be a prime target for Iranian retaliation against any U.S. operation.
Senior Iranian official Ali Shamkhani explicitly threatened to strike "the heart of Tel Aviv" in the event of an American attack. However, Israeli officials told Channel 12 News they don’t believe any U.S. action can topple the Iranian regime, and believe Trump will focus potential strikes on the regime’s nuclear and missile programs.
A U.S. Navy missile destroyer docked a short time ago at the port of Eilat.
— Documenting Israel (@DocumentIsrael) January 30, 2026
The IDF says: “The destroyer is docking at the port as part of routine, pre-planned activity and as part of the cooperation between the IDF and the United States military." pic.twitter.com/gv9HDr3xr3
Channel 12 also reported that a high-level security consultation held by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a “classified topic” in Jerusalem on Thursday, focused on the Iran issue.
A senior Israeli official told Reuters, “If you’re going to topple the regime, you have to put boots on the ground,” adding that Iran will “have a new leader that will replace” Khamenei in the event he is assassinated. The official estimates that only external pressure, combined with an organized domestic opposition, could topple the regime effectively.
According to the NYT, Israel is, therefore, pressing the U.S. to join it in another round of strikes against the Iranian ballistic missile array, which Israel believes the regime has been scrambling to rebuild since the 12-Day War last June.
IDF Intelligence Chief Maj.-Gen. Shlomi Binder was reportedly in Washington for talks with White House officials this week. Axios reported that he brought with him specific intelligence on targets that the U.S. had requested.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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