The US military in the Middle East has stepped up combat readiness over fears of a possible Iranian attack, reports Politico, citing an unnamed military official.
According to the official, The Pentagon is closely monitoring “alarming indicators of a potential attack preparation” by Iranian militias in Iraq. At the same time, the source of the publication noted that we are not talking about offensive actions, but only about containing Iran from any aggressive actions against the United States or the forces of the international coalition in the region.
The Pentagon is concerned that Tehran may take advantage of the transfer of presidential powers in the United States and the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the upcoming anniversary of the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the official explained.
December 2 The Washington Post reported that the White House is evacuating almost half of the staff of the US Embassy in Baghdad and other diplomatic facilities in Iraq in anticipation of a retaliatory strike Tehran after the assassination of nuclear physicist Mohsen Fahrizadeh and on the eve of the anniversary of the assassination of Soleimani.
Relations between the United States and Iran have escalated after the assassination by the American military of General of the elite Iranian special forces “Al-Quds” of the IRGC Qasem Soleimani on January 3, 2020 in Baghdad. In response, on the night of January 8, several American military installations in Iraq were attacked by the Iranian IRGC. After that, the US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of new sanctions.