Khaberni - The regional scene, today Monday, saw a sharp escalation in tensions around Iran, following a series of military moves and official statements and others from factions, amid fears of a potential confrontation that could extend to the entire region.
What has fueled the scene?
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) today announced the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its strike group to the Middle East, in a step to enhance the American firepower amid escalating tensions with Iran.
Photos released by the command showed sailors aboard the carrier during routine maintenance in the Indian Ocean, confirming that the strike group is working to enhance regional security and stability.
In statements reported by Israeli media, the commander of CENTCOM, Brad Cooper, said that U.S. military logic is based on the possibility of executing a "short, rapid, and clean operation" inside Iran, adding that full readiness in the Iranian region requires time, yet the United States is always ready for any limited action.
Cooper pointed out that the potential attack, if it occurred, would target officials who harmed the protesters.
In the same context, the Israeli Chief of Staff reported that defensive coordination between Israel and the United States was discussed in case an attack leads to the launch of ballistic missiles towards Israel. The commander of the Northern Command in Israel confirmed that Tel Aviv is monitoring the accumulation of American forces in the Gulf and is preparing for the possibility of an attack, but it does not know where things will go with Iran.
2:12
Has Tehran been mobilized?
In Tehran, the armed forces emphasized that any threat against national security is monitored from its early stages, and that any decision regarding the response will be taken in a timely manner based on precise field assessments.
A senior military official at the Khatam al-Anbia headquarters stated that the Iranian forces do not only monitor enemy movements at the execution stage, but also closely follow the shape and origins of any threat.
He emphasized that any conception of conducting a limited and rapid operation against Iran reflects a misunderstanding of Iranian defense and offensive capabilities, and that any scenario relying on the element of surprise would spin out of control from its beginning.
Iran clarified through an official in the General Staff that the American military presence in the region, including aircraft carriers, is exaggerated by the media, and that the maritime environment surrounding Iran is well-known and fully controlled by the Iranian armed forces, and that the concentration of foreign forces in the region increases its fragility and makes it readily available targets.
Iran confirmed that it would not be the first to start a war, but it would not allow any threat against its national security to proceed to the execution stage, holding the provoking party fully responsible for any unintended consequences.
9:02
Were there concurrent regional signals?
On the other hand, several factions today expressed strong positions against any potential attack on Iran. Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naim Qassem emphasized that the party would not be neutral if Iran is attacked, confirming that any threat to Iran is considered a direct threat to the entire Axis of Resistance.
He added that the party would handle any escalation appropriately and in accordance with what its legitimate responsibility and public interest mandate.
In Iraq, the Secretary General of Kata'ib Hezbollah Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi warned that the war on Iran would not be a "walk in the park", calling on "the mujahideen to prepare for an all-encompassing war to support the Islamic Republic, including carrying out field operations or defensive martyrdom operations if a jihad declaration is issued from the religious authority".
In Yemen, the Ansar Allah group's (Houthis) war media declared targeting the British ship Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden with a locally-made "Red Sea" missile.
Footage released by the group showed moments of tracking the ship and making the targeting decision, in a message that clarified that all no-sailing zones have become within their reach.
2:53
Did the move surpass the allies?
On the regional level, the United Arab Emirates affirmed its commitment not to allow the use of its territory, airspace, or waters for any military acts against Iran, and not to provide any logistical support for that.
The UAE Foreign Ministry emphasized that enhancing dialogue, reducing escalation, adherence to international laws and respecting the sovereignty of states is the best way to address current crises, with the confirmation that resolving disputes should occur through diplomatic means.
Thus, today marks a state of unprecedented tension in the region, combining the enhancement of U.S. military presence, the mobilization of Iranian forces, and the readiness of Lebanese, Iraqi, and Yemeni factions to respond, while Israel monitors and prepares its defensive plans, and the UAE adheres to "a clear neutralization line" to prevent any use of its territories or airspace against Iran.
These developments gather several elements within a single day, indicating a new phase, with the possibility of limited escalation or wider confrontation.
