US officials have been told that Israel is fully ready to launch an operation into Iran, CBS News reported, citing "multiple sources."
"The US anticipates Iran could retaliate on certain American sites in neighboring Iraq. This is part of the reason the U.S. advised some Americans to leave the region," the TV channel said on its website.
Non-essential US embassy staff and their dependants in Baghdad are to be evacuated from Iraq due to heightened security risks, US government sources have said.
Officials did not say exactly what prompted the removal, however, on Wednesday, US officials were told Israel was ready to launch an operation into Iran, the BBC's US partner CBS reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.
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U.S. State Department is also reportedly preparing to order the evacuation of non-essential personnel and family members from the embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to the Associated Press.
ReplyDeleteOn Wednesday evening at the Kennedy Center, President Donald Trump explained that the embassy is being “moved out” from the Middle East “because it could be a dangerous place,” indicating a potential military exchange with Iran.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also approved the voluntary departure of families of American military personnel from countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait and Bahrain, Reuters news agency reported.
ReplyDeleteTestifying in front of a congressional panel on Wednesday, the Pentagon said he believed there were "plenty of indications" that Iran was "moving their way towards something that would look a lot like a nuclear weapon".
Iran says its uranium enrichment programme is for civilian energy generation and that it is not trying to build an atomic bomb.
Also on Wednesday, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations organisation - part of the Royal Navy - issued a warning saying that increased military tensions in the Middle East could affect shipping.
ReplyDeletePresident Donald Trump said on Wednesday the US was relocating personnel from the potentially "dangerous" Middle East as nuclear talks with Iran stalled, raising conflict fears. He vowed to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon amid speculation of Israeli strikes. Tehran threatened to target US bases if conflict erupts.
ReplyDeleteIran threatened Wednesday to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out.
ReplyDeleteIran warned it would respond to any attack.
Delete"All its bases are within our reach, we have access to them, and without hesitation we will target all of them in the host countries," Iran's Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said in response to US threats of military action if the talks fail.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorized "the voluntary departure" of US military dependents from the Middle East due to security issues, a representative of US military circles told TASS.
ReplyDelete"The safety and security of our service members and their families remains our highest priority and US Central Command (CENTCOM) is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the CENTCOM area of responsibility," the official said.