WASHINGTON – The United States media on Thursday reported that Israel may launch a military operation against Iran at any time, raising alarm over growing tensions in the Middle East.
According to US media outlets, Israeli officials have informed Washington that they are fully prepared to carry out a strike inside Iran. The report states that Israel has already provided advance notice of its plans to the United States.
In response to the potential escalation, American intelligence suggests Iran could retaliate by targeting US military installations in Iraq. As a precautionary measure, the U.S. government has advised some of its citizens currently in the Middle East to evacuate immediately.
The Department of Defense (Pentagon) has also authorized military families to voluntarily leave the region. Additionally, due to the rising tensions between Iran and Israel, U.S. Secretary of Defense has approved the voluntary evacuation of non-diplomatic personnel from the Middle East.
A senior US official emphasized that the safety and security of American troops and their families remains a top priority.
Iran issues stern warning
In a strong statement, Iran warned the United States that any conflict will lead to attacks on all American military bases across the region. Iranian Defense Minister expressed hope that diplomatic efforts would prevail, but cautioned that if war were imposed on Iran, the consequences for its enemies would be far more severe.
“We hope the situation does not escalate to that point and that negotiations yield positive results,” he stated. “But if war is forced upon us, the losses suffered by the enemy will far exceed ours.”
Nuclear tensions continue
Meanwhile, the diplomatic strains between Iran and the United States persist over uranium enrichment and nuclear activities. Since April, both nations have engaged in five rounds of negotiations in an attempt to revive or replace the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The sixth round of nuclear talks is expected to be held on Sunday in Muscat, Oman, where hopes remain for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing standoff.
