USA TODAY
The U.S. is moving more troops to the Middle East to prepare for an attack by Iran on Israeli or western interests that could come very soon and without warning, two senior officials said Friday.
Iran’s leaders have vowed to attack Israel after an airstrike in Damascus on the Iranian embassy compound killed seven Iranians. Iran blames Israel for the attack, while Israel has not acknowledged publicly whether it conducted it. Israeli leaders, however, have warned that they will respond to any military action by Iran.
Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, has been in Israel conferring with officials there about a potential attack, according to the Defense official.
On Thursday, the State Department issued a security alert for U.S. government employees in Israel. The security alert noted that incidents can take place without warning and “can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events.” Employees and their families have been restricted from personal travel outside major metropolitan areas in Israel.
