By: Fern Sidman

In a stark escalation of Middle Eastern tensions, U.S. officials have been informed that Israel is now “fully ready” to launch a military operation against Iran, with particular focus on neutralizing Tehran’s nuclear facilities. The revelation, first reported by CBS News and independently confirmed by VIN News through diplomatic sources, has triggered a wave of precautionary evacuations and strategic redeployments across the region.

The U.S. State Department has ordered the immediate departure of non-essential personnel from both the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, amid mounting fears that an Israeli strike could provoke a swift and widespread Iranian retaliation—not just against Israel, but against American military and diplomatic assets scattered across the Middle East.

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, dependents of U.S. military personnel stationed in volatile areas are also being withdrawn as a preventive measure. The Pentagon has raised force protection levels in several Gulf states, where major U.S. military installations remain within range of Iran’s conventional and proxy weapons systems.

One senior U.S. defense official, speaking anonymously to VIN News, described the current situation as a “pre-war posture,” noting that Israeli readiness is not hypothetical but “actionable and imminent.” Intelligence sharing between Israeli and U.S. agencies reportedly intensified over the last ten days, with Israeli officials conveying to Washington that operational plans to degrade Iran’s nuclear infrastructure are “complete and executable.”

While neither Jerusalem nor Tehran has made any public declarations confirming this imminent flashpoint, regional governments and global financial markets are already showing signs of anxiety. VIN News has learned that several U.S. allies in the Gulf—particularly Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates—have begun contingency planning for a scenario that could see ballistic missile exchanges and asymmetric warfare spill into their airspace and infrastructure.

Israeli officials, long critical of ineffective international diplomacy on the Iranian nuclear issue, appear increasingly convinced that a military solution may now be necessary to prevent Iran from reaching nuclear weapons capability. As VIN News has frequently reported, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior defense leaders have consistently reiterated their red line: Iran must never be allowed to become a nuclear-armed state.

Privately, U.S. officials acknowledge that while the Biden administration has counseled restraint, it also shares grave concerns about Tehran’s nuclear advances. Iran’s uranium enrichment now exceeds 60% purity, according to International Atomic Energy Agency reports—a level perilously close to weapons-grade.

“From Israel’s perspective, the window to act may be closing,” one former intelligence analyst told VIN News. “They believe diplomacy has failed, and deterrence must now be reasserted through force.”

Should Israel proceed with a strike, U.S. officials warn that Iran’s response could be both direct and indirect, targeting Israeli cities as well as U.S. military bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and potentially as far afield as the Horn of Africa.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has frequently threatened to retaliate against U.S. interests in the event of an Israeli strike, viewing Washington and Jerusalem as indistinguishable in their strategic aims. Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen—including Hezbollah, Kataib Hezbollah, and the Houthis—are believed to be on high alert.

According to the information contained in the VIN News report, satellite imagery and intercepts suggest that Iran has been moving air defense assets and preparing contingency plans for attacks on sensitive installations, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—nuclear sites buried deep underground or otherwise heavily fortified.

The potential for escalation into a multi-front conflict remains alarmingly high, with U.S. officials warning that even a limited Israeli strike could “ignite the entire region.”

The State Department’s decision to evacuate American personnel from Baghdad and Erbil has called attention to the gravity of the situation. While such actions are not unprecedented, they are rarely taken without clear intelligence of imminent threats.

A senior regional security adviser told VIN News, “This is not a drill. These are real and deliberate moves being made by real governments preparing for real consequences.”

While the full scope of Israel’s potential operation remains classified, military analysts believe it could involve precision airstrikes, cyber operations, and covert sabotage missions, reminiscent of prior Israeli tactics used to delay Iran’s nuclear advancements without sparking full-scale war.

The coming days will likely prove critical. Diplomatic backchannels remain active, and European mediators are reportedly urging both Israel and Iran to exercise restraint. But as the VIN News report noted, the lack of public de-escalation from either side signals a rapidly closing window for a peaceful outcome.

American citizens across the Middle East have been urged to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and monitor advisories from the U.S. Embassy and Department of State.

For now, the region holds its breath, bracing for what may become one of the most consequential military confrontations of the 21st century.