Recently, the U.S. military has made moves in the Middle East that could indicate plans for action against Iran. However, it’s also plausible that they’re just being cautious or creating a diversion.
According to BBC, on Wednesday, both the United States and Britain confirmed they had pulled some personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which is the largest American military installation in the region.
Back in June, Al Udeid was targeted by missiles from Iran after the U.S. struck Iran’s uranium enrichment facility. Most of the missiles were intercepted, yet one did manage to hit the base, resulting in moderate damage.
Before the bombing in June, there had been a more significant troop withdrawal from Al Udeid. U.S. officials stated that small, temporary layoffs were initiated as a “precautionary measure,” as reported by CBS News on Wednesday.
Reuters noted that on the same day, some aircraft were also taken from Al Udeid after a heightened state of alert was declared for unspecified reasons. The alert status returned to normal by Thursday, with officials informing some personnel who had been advised to leave that they could come back.
An anonymous Iranian official, as reported by Reuters, indicated that the Tehran government had communicated with regional nations, from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Turkey, warning that if the U.S. acted against Iran, American military bases in those countries would be targeted.
The Guardian reported that on Thursday, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Oman urged President Trump not to strike Iran. Their concerns included the potential for Iranian retaliation leading to broader regional conflicts, as well as fears that a successful U.S.-backed revolution in Iran could create unrest in their own countries.
The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group is en route to the Middle East from the South China Sea and should reach the region in about a week.
The New York Times mentioned that the Pentagon has presented a range of options to the president regarding actions against Iran. These options include additional airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, assaults on its internal security services, and cyber operations.
As the New York Times highlighted, any military action is likely to occur within a few days and could provoke serious retaliation from Iran, according to officials.
