US President Donald Trump attended a secret high-level meeting on Iran and Yemen at Camp David on Friday, chaired by Vice President JD Vance and attended by top national security aides, Axios reported, as Washington weighs a major military buildup in the Middle East and renewed strikes on Iran.
According to the Axios report, cited by the Jerusalem Post, attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA director John Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Three US officials told Axios that "things were decided, or at least deeply discussed." The White House declined to respond to a request for comment.
Three carriers under consideration
The meeting comes amid reports that the US military is considering a major expansion of its naval presence in the region. The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Pentagon could move up to three carrier strike groups — the USS George Washington, the USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Theodore Roosevelt — into the Middle East, along with escorts, in the coming weeks.
The buildup could include an additional 20,000 troops on top of the roughly 50,000 already deployed in the region, as well as up to 150 fighter jets and destroyers to defend against missile attacks, according to the report.
Midterms timing
In a TIME interview published Thursday, Trump said renewed bombing of Iran after the November midterm elections was "possible." He declined to discuss potential targets but said Washington had spent months replenishing its weapons stocks.
Saudi eyes Yemen move
Separately, Reuters reported on Friday that Saudi Arabia is considering a significant military offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, aimed at breaking the group's hold on key coastal areas and securing Red Sea shipping routes. The operation could be launched in the coming weeks, led on the ground by Yemeni forces overseen by Riyadh and supported by Saudi airstrikes, according to people familiar with the preparations.
No final decision has been announced by any side, but planning appears to be intensifying on all fronts.
Sources: Iran, Yemen on agenda as secret Camp David meeting led by Donald Trump, JD Vance (The Jerusalem Post, citing Axios) | 20,000 Troops, 150 Fighter Jets: US Readies Massive Middle East Force As Trump Weighs Iran Strikes (Times Now)
According to the Axios report, cited by the Jerusalem Post, attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA director John Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Dan Caine. Three US officials told Axios that "things were decided, or at least deeply discussed." The White House declined to respond to a request for comment.
Three carriers under consideration
The meeting comes amid reports that the US military is considering a major expansion of its naval presence in the region. The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Pentagon could move up to three carrier strike groups — the USS George Washington, the USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Theodore Roosevelt — into the Middle East, along with escorts, in the coming weeks.
The buildup could include an additional 20,000 troops on top of the roughly 50,000 already deployed in the region, as well as up to 150 fighter jets and destroyers to defend against missile attacks, according to the report.
Midterms timing
In a TIME interview published Thursday, Trump said renewed bombing of Iran after the November midterm elections was "possible." He declined to discuss potential targets but said Washington had spent months replenishing its weapons stocks.
Saudi eyes Yemen move
Separately, Reuters reported on Friday that Saudi Arabia is considering a significant military offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, aimed at breaking the group's hold on key coastal areas and securing Red Sea shipping routes. The operation could be launched in the coming weeks, led on the ground by Yemeni forces overseen by Riyadh and supported by Saudi airstrikes, according to people familiar with the preparations.
No final decision has been announced by any side, but planning appears to be intensifying on all fronts.
Sources: Iran, Yemen on agenda as secret Camp David meeting led by Donald Trump, JD Vance (The Jerusalem Post, citing Axios) | 20,000 Troops, 150 Fighter Jets: US Readies Massive Middle East Force As Trump Weighs Iran Strikes (Times Now)
