February 16th, 2026: US Military Plans Weeks-Long Iran Ops & Arctic Carrier Deployment
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
It's Monday, the 16th of February. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. First up, a new report says the U.S. military is preparing for a potentially weeks-long operation against Iran as President Trump deploys another aircraft carrier to the region. I'll have the details. Later in the show, in what's likely a nod to President Trump, Britain announces it's sending an aircraft carrier strike group to the Arctic, citing a growing Russian threat. Plus, European officials say Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed with a rare toxin derived from South American poison dart frogs, accusing the Kremlin of orchestrating his death.
Well, because, well, because they did orchestrate his death. And in today's Back of the Brief, in the latest sign of artificial intelligence's growing role on the battlefield, the Pentagon reportedly used AI during the raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. A new report from Reuters suggests that the U.S. military is preparing for something far more prolonged against Iran than the limited strike against its nuclear sites that we saw last year. According to two U.S. officials speaking anonymously, the Pentagon is drawing up plans for a potentially weeks-long military operation against Iran, not a one-night strike but a sustained campaign, should the White House give the order.
Last year's so-called midnight hammer operation involved stealth bombers flying from the U.S. to hit Iranian nuclear facilities. It was precise, it was limited, and it was over quickly. Iran responded with a restrained retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar, and both sides then stepped back. This time, officials say the planning is more complex.
What are the US military's plans for operations against Iran?
A sustained campaign could target not only nuclear infrastructure, but Iranian state and security facilities as well. That dramatically expands the scope and the risk, and for that I award myself today's PDB Statement of the Obvious Award. and U.S. officials reportedly expect Iran to retaliate. Oh, there's another statement of the obvious award. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has already warned that any strike on Iranian territory would trigger attacks on U.S. military bases across the region, and there are plenty of them. They're in Jordan and Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. That's where the force buildup becomes important. As we reported on Friday, it's now been confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is being deployed to the Middle East.
The Ford is fresh off operations related to Venezuela, and while it's not yet clear which escort ships will accompany it, the carrier itself brings considerable firepower. Its air wing includes four squadrons of FAA-18 fighters, multirole aircraft capable of air superiority, precision strikes, and maritime attacks, along with a squadron of EA-18G Growlers, specialized electronic warfare jets designed to jam enemy radar and suppress air defenses. That air wing is engineered for contested airspace. It's what you deploy when you expect sophisticated missile systems and layered defenses.
How is Britain responding to the Russian threat in the Arctic?
However, notably absent from the conversation so far would be ground troops. Now, President Trump has long expressed skepticism about putting American boots on the ground in Iran. The current posture suggests any action would rely heavily on air and naval and potentially special operations capabilities. That would align with how the administration handled Venezuela, using targeted force rather than anything resembling a large-scale occupation. And the rhetoric has also escalated. Speaking at Fort Bragg, President Trump openly floated the idea of regime change in Tehran, saying it, quote, seems like that would be the best thing that could happen. He did not specify who would replace the current leadership, but he made clear that, in his view, the status quo has run its course.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:12–2:05
2
What are the US military's plans for operations against Iran?
2:05–3:32
3
How is Britain responding to the Russian threat in the Arctic?
3:32–4:41
4
What new findings are there about Alexei Navalny's death?
4:41–6:14
5
How is artificial intelligence being used in military operations?
6:14–15:06
6
What are the implications of the USS Gerald R. Ford's deployment?
15:06–21:48
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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