European and Israeli officials believe a United States military strike against Iran could take place within the next 24 hours, according to Reuters, as Washington begins a precautionary withdrawal of personnel from military bases across the Middle East.
The developments come amid escalating regional tensions and as Iran’s leadership struggles to contain the most severe internal unrest the Islamic Republic has ever faced.
Precautionary Withdrawals From US Bases
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed on Wednesday that some American personnel are being withdrawn from strategically important bases in the region due to heightened security risks.
The move follows statements by a senior Iranian official warning that Tehran has informed neighbouring countries it would target US bases on their territory if Washington launches an attack on Iran.
Two European officials told Reuters that a US military intervention now appears increasingly likely, with one assessing that it could occur within 24 hours.
Signals From Washington and Tel Aviv
An Israeli official also said there were indications that US President Donald Trump has decided to intervene, though neither the scale nor the timing of any operation has been clarified.
Qatar confirmed that the withdrawal of personnel from Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military base in the region, is taking place “in response to current regional tensions”.
Three diplomats said some personnel had been instructed to leave, though there were no signs of a full-scale evacuation, unlike the situation seen hours before an Iranian missile strike last year.
Tehran’s Warnings and Diplomatic Freeze
The escalation coincides with Iran’s efforts to suppress widespread protests at home, while also attempting to deter repeated threats by Trump to intervene in support of anti-government demonstrators.
In recent days, Trump has openly threatened action without providing details. In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, he pledged “very tough action” if Iran proceeds with executions of protesters. He also urged Iranians to continue demonstrating and to seize institutions, stating that “help is coming”.
A senior Iranian official said Tehran has asked regional states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, to prevent a US attack. He warned that American bases in those countries would be targeted if Washington strikes Iran.
According to the same official, direct contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended.
The US maintains a significant military presence in the region, including the forward headquarters of US Central Command in Qatar and the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.
Deadly Crackdown and International Reaction
Information flowing out of Iran remains limited due to internet blackouts.
Human rights organisation HRANA said it has verified the deaths of 2,403 protesters and 147 individuals linked to the government so far. An Iranian official put the death toll at more than 2,000, while another organisation estimates the figure exceeds 2,600.
Iran’s armed forces chief Abdolrahim Mousavi said the country has “never faced destruction on this scale”, blaming foreign enemies for the unrest.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the situation as “the most extreme form of violent repression in modern Iranian history”.
Iranian authorities accuse the US and Israel of orchestrating the unrest, which they describe as the work of “armed terrorists”. Despite the scale of the uprising, a Western official assessed that the government does not appear on the brink of collapse and that the security apparatus remains under control.
According to HRANA, at least 18,137 arrests have been made. Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported that a 26-year-old protester, Erfan Soltani, was due to be executed on Wednesday, though it remains unconfirmed whether the sentence was carried out.
Source: cnn.gr