Reports: Israeli jets flew to Iran’s border; some US sources suspect bid to rile Tehran

Dozens of Israeli fighter jets and refueling aircraft reportedly flew over Syria and Iraq toward the Iranian border earlier this week, following a flight path resembling an attack on Iran. The aircraft turned around shortly before reaching Iranian territory and returned to Israel, according to an Axios report citing unnamed US and Israeli officials, following an earlier Fox News report on the matter. Israel informed Washington of the sortie in advance, saying it was a military exercise and a show of force intended to deter Iran from attacking ahead of next week’s election, the sources told Axios. However, some US sources said they suspected Israeli officials may have hoped Iran would fire on the aircraft, providing Israel with justification to launch an attack. The reports came after the Financial Times reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had sought to launch strikes against Iran earlier this month, but US President Donald Trump opposed renewed fighting before the US midterm elections. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms Axios added that IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told his American counterpart, Dan Caine, that a war before Israel’s elections next week would likely force the vote to be postponed. Zamir said Tuesday that the military will enable next week’s election to take place “without external interference.” Motorists ride past portraits of Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, October 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) Channel 12 reported Wednesday that top security officials oppose military action against Iran that could upend the election. Advertisement The network said Israeli officials assess that Iran may consider launching its own strikes to preempt any American-Israeli plan to strike it, and noted concern among heads of the defense establishment that ongoing saber-rattling by Israeli leaders could encourage Iran to choose such a course of action. The report said some in the defense establishment had told Zamir they expected him to stand in the way of any attempt to strike Iran before the national vote, which they consider a political move, rather than one based on a military imperative. New threats Netanyahu and Katz continued their aggressive rhetoric toward Iran on Wednesday. While speaking at an IDF cadets graduation ceremony, Netanyahu said Iran has been trying to advance the development of nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at an IDF cadets graduation ceremony at the officers’ school in southern Israel, known as Bahad 1, on October 21, 2026. (Kobi Gideon/GPO) “The Iranian regime still has not learned its lesson. Mojtaba Khamenei decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. He has taken off the safety, and Iran is once again trying to develop its weapons of death,” Netanyahu said at the officers’ school in southern Israel, known as Bahad 1. “Therefore, there is only one way to remove this threat once and for all — to topple the regime in Iran, and that is my directive to the IDF, the Mossad and the security agencies,” he said. Advertisement Katz, speaking at the same ceremony, warned Iran and its proxies against carrying out attacks during the election next week. “In recent days, we have identified attempts by our enemies, foremost among them Iran and its proxies, to carry out terror attacks that would affect the results of the election in Israel,” he said. Katz said that “the Iranian regime is at its weakest point ever, and we identify that this weakness could lead it to take the most extreme measures, including against the State of Israel.” “Our message to the Iranian regime is clear: We see your attempts, we are prepared to thwart them, and we are ready to strike you with full force,” he continued, adding: “If Iran attacks Israel, Iran will burn!” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center), Defense Minister Israel Katz (3rd left) and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir (2nd right), attend the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers’ course in southern Israel, October 21, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90) Meanwhile, Zamir said the defense of Israel must be a shared goal, amid ongoing efforts by the military to draft members of the ultra-Orthodox community who largely do not enlist. “The mission of defending the State of Israel is shared by all of us and is greater than any disagreement. The IDF is the people’s army, and unity within it is essential to its strength,” he told the graduating officers. US to clear some personnel from Gulf embassies Amid the tensions, the US State Department is preparing to issue an ordered departure of some personnel and family members from US embassies across the Gulf region, three US officials said on Wednesday. The US embassy headquarters in Riyadh is pictured on March 3, 2026, after it was hit by drone strikes earlier. (AFP) The move was due to a possible resumption of hostilities, particularly with Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen, two of the US officials said. Advertisement The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday about possible further attacks by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia, after recent deadly strikes including on Riyadh’s airport. Two of the US officials said the ordered departures would potentially involve the evacuation of all personnel and their families from the embassy. Stalled talks Negotiations between the US and Iran have largely stalled in recent months. At their heart is a dispute over the future of Iran’s nuclear program. Iran maintains that the program is peaceful but has enriched uranium far beyond any civilian use, blocked inspectors and built a ballistic missile program. The US seeks the nuclear program’s dismantlement. US Vice President JD Vance said ​earlier this month that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction ​in ⁠its uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy US demands. But Iran has rebuffed those demands, saying Washington could not regain Tehran’s trust until it fulfilled seven conditions Iran set last month for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the key pathway for oil and gas that the Islamic Republic has blocked since the beginning of the war, according to an Iranian readout of the meeting. Iran’s demands include ending a US blockade on its ports that was launched in response to the strait’s obstruction. They also include the ‌lifting of sanctions on its oil exports and ending hostilities on all regional fronts, a term referring to conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Help us report truthfully on social media As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos. This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world. If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism , please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting. — Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist Support our work Support our work Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this You're a dedicated reader We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE , as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel Join Our Community Join Our Community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular 1 Global industry professionals spurn major Israeli music showcase amid cultural boycott 2 IDF says strike killed final Hamas member who took part in kidnapping Shani Louk 3 Op-ed: 6 days to election For Israel’s sake, Netanyahu has to go 4 Netanyahu planned attack on Iran earlier this month, but Trump opposed it – report 5 Israel bars United pilot from its airspace over alleged support for Iran, Hezbollah 6 Netanyahu blames French unrest on ‘invasion of extremist Islam’; France set to deploy troops 7 Iran security chief rejects moving enriched uranium abroad, as Netanyahu vows to topple regime 8 Inside story Israelis flying from US to vote are leaning on a network built during judicial overhaul protests read more: Israel & the Region Israel-US relations 2026 US-Israel war with Iran Mojtaba Khamenei Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Katz Eyal Zamir If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community. JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY Already a member? Log in here close popup Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community Sign in or Register Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles Email address * Please use the following structure: [email protected] Continue Or Continue with By joining you agree to the terms and conditions Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition back close popup Register to continue Email address * Change REGISTER Or Continue with back close popup Log in to continue Email address * Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.. Continue back close popup Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community Sign in or Register You are currently registered. Please join The Times of Israel Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits Only ToI Community members can comment below articles Email address * Password * Incorrect password. Please try again or choose an option below. Forgot your password? / Send me a login link Continue Sign in without joining Or Continue with close popup Check your email We sent an email to you at . It has a link that will sign you in. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. back close popup Join The Times of Israel Community Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits. Email address * Please use the following structure: [email protected] JOIN NOW! close popup Thank you! Now check your email You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.