The United States has reportedly rushed two destroyers into position near Israel in increased efforts to protect Israel and American troops based on the Middle East in the midst of fears that a major escalation by Iran might well be coming. At least one of the warships carries an Aegis missile-defense system that would be used to intercept missiles launched by Iran, or its proxies, against Israel. Likely additional military assets will be moved to the region if worrying developments continue. Israel itself has stated it has strengthened its air defenses and paused leave for combat units in preparation for an attack by Iran.
The movements of American military forces comes on the heels of Iran’s threats of an violent response against Israel following a strike by the Israel Defense Force earlier this month in Syria on Iran’s consulate there that saw the killing of two Iranian generals and five other officers. One of the casualties, General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, previously led the elite Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria up through 2016. Beyond the military targets, Iran’s consular building, which contained the Iranian ambassador’s residence, was leveled in the attack.
Intelligence sources in the US have also reported that Iran has begun moving its military assets internally, including both drones and cruise missiles. President Joe Biden himself has stated that he expects Iran to attack “sooner than later.” Even should Iran choose not to attack Israel from its own territory, its likely it would at least direct its proxies Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Houthi rebels in Yemen to attack. For Iran’s part, they themselves have warned of the possibility of a full-fledged war. Such would be a significant escalation from their, to this point, primarily supporting their proxy groups in Lebanon and Yemen who have been engaged in such actions as launching missiles towards targets in Israel.
Worries are already increasing that Iran’s responses might not be limited to Israel itself either. This would already appear to be the case, as early this morning Iran’s state news agency IRNA announced that Iranian Revolutionary Guards had seized a Portuguese flagged MSC Aries vessel that it supposedly “linked to Israel” which is now being transferred to Iran’s territorial waters. With things continuing to develop on the ground, and with the United States, Israel, and Iran already repositioning military assets and making moves, the events of the next few days will likely determine whether eventual deescalation is possible in the region or if an expansion of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza expands to a regional war.