Washington D.C: The United States has heightened its security alert, anticipating a possible Iranian offensive targeting Israeli or American interests in West Asia. This development follows the recent Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, which resulted in the death of a high-ranking commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
US intelligence sources, citing the urgency of the situation, suggest that a retaliatory attack by Iran could be imminent, potentially occurring within the next week. “We’re definitely at a high state of vigilance,” an official stated to CNN, reflecting the serious nature of the threat.
In a decisive move, Israel has also ramped up its military readiness. The Israeli Defense Forces have canceled leaves for combat units, implemented GPS restrictions, and summoned reservists to bolster air defense capabilities.
Further intensifying the situation, reports from the New York Times reveal that Iran has mobilized its armed forces to a state of full readiness. Tehran’s decision to directly confront the attack on its Damascus embassy is seen as a strategic move to establish deterrence.
Amidst national mourning, General Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, delivered a stern warning during a funeral service in Tehran. “Our brave men will punish the Zionist regime. We warn that no act by any enemy against our holy system will go unanswered, and the art of the Iranian nation is to break the power of empires,” he proclaimed.
The strike claimed the lives of seven Iranian military advisers, including the notable figure Zahedi. Iran has openly declared its right to a “decisive response” to the aggression.
In a recent development, US President Joe Biden engaged in a critical discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They addressed the looming threat from Iran, with a senior Biden administration official affirming, “The United States fully supports the defense of Israel against threats from Iran.”
This is not the first instance of Iranian retaliation to US military actions. Notably, in 2020, following the US-led assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, Iran launched missile strikes on US bases in Iraq, resulting in over a hundred injuries among troops. The current climate suggests a similar response may be on the horizon as regional powers brace for potential conflict.
