As of January 14, 2026, with Donald Trump serving his second non-consecutive term as the 47th President of the United States, Al Jazeera has published an explainer article detailing his military options for an attack on Iran amidst escalating tensions. This comes as Trump has reportedly threatened "very strong action" if the Iranian government continues its violent crackdown on ongoing anti-government protests across Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that diplomacy remains the first option, but President Trump is "unafraid to use the lethal force" if deemed necessary, with airstrikes being among the many options on the table. The geopolitical backdrop includes a significant historical event from June 2025, when a "Twelve-Day War" erupted between Iran and Israel. During this conflict (June 13-24, 2025), the United States, under President Trump, launched "Operation Midnight Hammer" on June 22, 2025, bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, following Israeli strikes. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Current military posture indicates a decreased US military presence in the Middle East since June 2025. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, for instance, moved from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean in mid-2025, engaging in operations around Venezuela, including the capture of its President Nicolás Maduro in early January 2026. Additionally, a Patriot air defense system unit deployed from South Korea to CENTCOM in March 2025 returned to South Korea on October 30, 2025. Amid these heightened tensions, some US personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar have been advised to leave by Wednesday evening, reflecting fears of a US strike and potential Iranian retaliation. This "posture change" indicates a proactive measure rather than an ordered evacuation. Analysts suggest that Trump's military options could range from targeted strikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to cyberattacks. However, concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of such interventions in quelling protests or achieving desired outcomes, as well as the inherent risks of accidental civilian casualties and regional escalation. The history of US intervention in the region also suggests that military action might not always yield successful results.