ALBAWABA - According to Western diplomatic sources, rapid military and intelligence developments over the past 72 hours have raised concerns that a broad confrontation between the US, Israel, and Iran is becoming more likely. Reportedly, current movements are the most threatening since last June's 12-day war.
Diplomats watching the region say military and intelligence actions are the “final warm-up” before a huge eruption that might change the Middle East for years. According to Erem News sources, Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran are now crossing paths in a tight geographical area, pushing the confrontation threshold to unprecedented levels.
Israeli military leaders under political orders have become more defensive. Air-defense systems have shifted from the north to the center of the country. Iron Dome batteries and the new Iron Beam laser-defense system have been placed around Tel Aviv and central districts to prepare for Iranian ballistic missile fire. Western officials say the deployment is defensive and shows confidence in enduring an initial strike and returning with greater force.
In parallel, the US has increased border movements with Iran. American intelligence has followed elite U.S. special-forces units in Erbil and an extraordinary increase in transport and aerial refueling missions into southern Iraq. These missions have not been this active since last June's Iranian nuclear facility strikes.
Iran reacted with its largest aerial operations in years. Fighter planes broke the sound barrier over Juman, a Kurdish hamlet near American bases. After the June strikes, Tehran restored its air-defense systems and put them on high alert for Israeli air operations. Iranian state television said the country is ready to respond directly to “American-Zionist aggression.”
Ground intelligence activity has increased. Iranian moves and militia deployments are being monitored by Israeli Mossad teams in Erbil, Duhok, Basra, and Nasiriyah. This trend resembles the days before the American-Israeli operation known as “Midnight Hammer,” which bombed Iranian nuclear sites earlier this year.
Western officials say the main question now is when and where the initial spark will ignite, not whether the clash would occur. Diplomats agree that the region is on the brink with all parties at full alert.
