Iran has reportedly prepared missiles for strikes on US bases in the Middle East if the Americans join the war. Iranian officials also said their country could start to place mines in the Strait of Hormuz if the US joined the war, reports The New York Times.
According to The New York Times, American military leaders are concerned that any direct US attack on Iran -- especially on key nuclear sites like the Fordo enrichment facility -- could spark a cascade of retaliatory actions by Tehran and its proxies.
“If the United States joins the Israeli campaign and strikes Fordo,” one US official said, “the Iranian-backed Houthi militia will almost certainly resume striking ships in the Red Sea.” Other Iran-aligned forces in Iraq and Syria are also expected to retaliate against US troops, the official added.
Intelligence officials also warned that Iran could revert to classic naval warfare tactics in the event of direct hostilities. “Iran could begin to mine the Strait of Hormuz,” one official cautioned — a move that would threaten one of the world’s most vital oil shipping lanes and risk drawing in other global powers.
Washington has already placed more than 40,000 troops on high alert across regional bases in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. American commanders have reportedly tightened force protection measures, bracing for potential missile attacks.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
