A senior Israeli security official told i24 that the United States is preparing for "something bigger than anything we've seen so far," signaling a potential shift in Washington's approach to the escalating conflict with Iran.

According to sources, Washington is weighing a more significant military operation rather than another limited retaliatory strike. The assessment is based on a series of developments rather than a single triggering event. The reported shift comes after years in which U.S. responses to Iranian and proxy aggression have largely consisted of targeted sanctions, cyber operations, and limited strikes, leaving analysts to debate whether deterrence has eroded as Tehran's activities have expanded.

Israeli officials have identified several key incidents contributing to the mounting tensions:

• Iran's ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces stationed in Jordan.
• Attacks by an Iran-backed Iraqi militia on targets in Saudi Arabia.
• Iranian threats directed at Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
• Tehran's refusal to reach an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies transit.
• The latest attack in Egypt.

Israeli officials believe the cumulative effect of these actions demonstrates that Iran is escalating tensions across multiple fronts simultaneously, thereby increasing the likelihood of a broader U.S. military response. The list of incidents spans the Gulf, Levant, Caucasus, and North Africa, underscoring the geographic reach of Iran's network of aligned militias and state partners, often referred to as the "Axis of Resistance," which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq.

The report has reverberated across global financial markets. U.S. stock indices declined but recovered from session lows. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 750 points, or -1.43%. The S&P 500 index declined 50 points, or -0.67%. The NASDAQ index dropped 179 points, or -0.72%. Equities pared losses as investors assessed whether the signals would translate into imminent action, though volatility persisted across defensive sectors and airline stocks.

Crude oil prices surged on the news, trading up $5.30 at $84.51, with the session high reaching $85.57. Energy markets have repeatedly proven sensitive to any threat of disruption near the Strait of Hormuz, as any escalation there could affect shipments from major Gulf producers including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq.