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U.S. officials have been informed that Israel is fully prepared to launch a military operation against Iran, several sources told CBS News, raising fears of a broader regional conflict and prompting a swift evacuation order for Americans in Iraq.
The State Department on Wednesday directed all non-emergency U.S. government personnel to leave Iraq, citing “heightened regional tensions.” The precautionary move follows assessments that Iran may retaliate against American interests in the region if Israel proceeds with a strike.
“Because it could be a dangerous place, and we’ll see what happens,” former President Donald Trump said during an appearance at the Kennedy Center, explaining the advisory for Americans to depart. Trump added, “We’re not going to allow [Iran] to develop a nuclear weapon.”
Israel Poised for Military Action
According to U.S. sources, Israel’s military readiness is complete, and the country could act independently against Iran’s nuclear facilities. While Israeli and White House officials declined to comment, the urgency of the evacuation underscores the seriousness of the threat assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been a fierce opponent of diplomacy with Iran. His government maintains it has conducted “countless overt and covert operations” to derail Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Trump Still Pushing for Diplomacy
Despite the rising tensions, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is planning to engage in a sixth round of nuclear talks with Iran in the coming days, two U.S. officials confirmed.
The Trump administration has made curbing Iran’s nuclear program a key foreign policy objective. International inspectors say Iran continues to enrich uranium close to weapons-grade levels.
“I told [Netanyahu] this would be inappropriate to do right now because we’re very close to a solution,” Trump said last month, revealing he personally urged the Israeli leader to hold off on any strikes while talks continue.
Sticking Points in Nuclear Talks
The negotiations remain fragile and unresolved. Trump has insisted Iran must completely halt uranium enrichment, a demand Iranian leaders have publicly rejected. Still, the administration is hopeful that a diplomatic breakthrough can avert a military conflict.
Regional Fallout Concerns
U.S. military planners are particularly concerned that an Israeli attack could trigger Iranian retaliation on American forces or facilities in Iraq, a country where both nations wield significant influence. The U.S. has thousands of troopsand contractors stationed across the region, making them potential targets.
“We do not want conflict, but we will protect American lives and interests,” a senior U.S. defense official said privately.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously struck U.S. bases in Iraq, and regional militias aligned with Iran remain active.
What Comes Next?
Analysts warn that any military confrontation between Israel and Iran could escalate rapidly, drawing in the United States and destabilizing the broader Middle East.
“If Israel launches a strike, Iran will respond, and the U.S. will inevitably be dragged in,” said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “That’s the dangerous triangle we’re watching unfold in real time.”
As of now, no final decision has been made public by Israeli leadership, and Trump’s team is pushing for more time to finalize a nuclear agreement. But the window for diplomacy may be closing fast.
