Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
The United States and Israel may attack Iran's power plants and oil factories very soon.
President Trump talked about this plan at a meeting on Friday. The meeting was at Camp David.
Trump said, 'We'll be hitting them very hard.' He has not given the final order yet.
An official from Israel said Israel has not agreed to join the attack yet. But the US and Israel may finish any attacks before Monday, when stock markets open.
- attack
- an action meant to hurt or damage someone or something
- power plant
- a place that makes electricity
- refinery
- a factory that turns crude oil into fuel
- meeting
- a time when people come together to talk about something
- official
- a person who has an important job in a government
- order
- an instruction telling someone what to do
- market
- a place where people buy and sell things, like stocks
- plan
- an idea for how to do something in the future
Level 2 — Elementary
The United States and Israel are getting ready for a possible bombing campaign against Iran's energy infrastructure, including power stations and oil refineries, with strikes that could begin as soon as this weekend.
The plan came up during a cabinet meeting that President Trump held at Camp David on Friday. While reporters were in the room, Trump said, 'We'll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they're going to say, We just can't take it anymore.'
When a reporter asked about diplomacy instead of more fighting, Trump answered, 'I think we just want to win.' As of Friday, Trump had not given the final go-ahead for the new strikes.
An Israeli official told reporters that Israel is not aware of any decision to restart full military operations and has not been asked to join. Still, officials have discussed trying to wrap up any strikes before financial markets open on Monday, because of worries about the economic fallout.
- infrastructure
- the basic systems and structures a country needs, like power and roads
- cabinet
- a group of top government officials who advise a leader
- diplomacy
- talking and negotiating instead of fighting to solve problems
- go-ahead
- permission to start doing something
- restart
- to begin something again after it stopped
- operation
- a planned military action
- economic
- relating to money, trade, and business
- fallout
- the bad results that happen after an event
Level 3 — Intermediate
The United States and Israel are preparing a possible bombing campaign against Iran's energy infrastructure, with power stations and oil refineries likely among the targets, and strikes could begin as soon as this weekend and continue for several days, according to officials familiar with the planning.
The strike plan came up during a cabinet meeting President Trump convened at Camp David on Friday, where he told reporters in the room, 'We'll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they're going to say, We just can't take it anymore.' Asked whether diplomacy remained an option, Trump replied, 'I think we just want to win.'
As of Friday, Trump had not issued a final order authorizing the new round of strikes, and some White House aides who focus on political strategy were said to be strongly opposed to the plan, reportedly out of concern over rising gasoline prices ahead of the midterm elections.
An Israeli official told CBS News that Israel is unaware of any decision to restart full-scale military operations and has not been asked to participate, even as US officials have discussed concluding any strikes before financial markets reopen on Monday, wary of the economic disruption a prolonged campaign against Iran's oil sector could cause.
- convene
- to call people together for a formal meeting
- authorize
- to give official permission for something to happen
- strategy
- a plan designed to achieve a particular goal
- midterm
- relating to elections held partway through a term of office
- full-scale
- involving the greatest possible size or extent
- participate
- to take part in an activity or event
- disruption
- a disturbance that interrupts normal activity
- prolonged
- continuing for a long time
Level 4 — Advanced
The United States and Israel are preparing what could become one of the most severe bombing campaigns yet against Iranian energy infrastructure, with power stations and oil refineries reportedly among the intended targets, as officials familiar with the deliberations say strikes could commence as early as this weekend and extend across several days.
The strike plan surfaced during a cabinet meeting President Trump convened at Camp David on Friday, where he told reporters present in the room, 'We'll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they're going to say, We just can't take it anymore.' Pressed on whether diplomatic avenues remained viable, Trump replied simply, 'I think we just want to win.'
As of Friday, Trump had withheld final authorization for the renewed offensive, and several White House aides attentive to political strategy were reported to be strongly opposed, wary that a sustained campaign against Iran's oil sector could drive gasoline prices upward ahead of the midterm elections and erode support among an already restive electorate.
An Israeli official told CBS News that Israel remains unaware of any decision to resume full-scale military operations and has not been solicited to participate, even as American officials have weighed concluding any strikes before financial markets reopen Monday, mindful of the economic disruption a protracted assault on Iran's energy sector might inflict on global markets already rattled by months of regional conflict.
- deliberation
- careful discussion and consideration before making a decision
- commence
- to begin or start
- offensive
- a military attack or campaign
- withhold
- to refuse to give or grant something
- restive
- unable to keep still or silent, especially due to dissatisfaction
- electorate
- all the people in a country or area entitled to vote
- solicit
- to ask for or seek to obtain something
- protracted
- lasting for a long time or longer than expected
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