"Retaliation Inevitable": U.S. Prepares for Retaliatory Strike on Iran
The Heat's On:
There's no doubt that Tehran's retribution is inevitable, but the next 48 hours are particularly tense, according to NBC News, citing two Pentagon representatives and a high-ranking source close to the President of the United States.
"This time frame will be especially tense, and authorities are preparing for potential retaliation that's imminent," they emphasized.
It's reported that Iran already has plans to strike US bases and assets in the Middle East, but there's no sign of imminent implementation yet.
"Sources aren't certain whether the retaliation will target overseas or domestic objectives, or both. Two military officials familiar with the Strategic Planning Division have said that Iran has plans to launch attacks on US bases and assets in the Middle East if necessary, albeit they cautioned that there are no signs of an impending rollout of such plans yet," NBC News added.
Turkish analyst Volkan Özdemir, on his Twitter account, warned that Iran's response to the US attack could expand the conflict across the entire region. Consequently, he speculates that a limited retaliation is more probable.
"If Iran doesn't respond at all, the regime will weaken. If it responds harshly, war will engulf the region. In light of this, I expect a limited retaliation," Özdemir concluded.
As Monocle earlier reported, in the early hours of June 22, US aerial and naval forces launched a strike on key Iranian nuclear facilities. This move places the US squarely in the middle of the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict.
Now, backed into a corner, Iran may consider a range of retaliatory actions. They might opt for asymmetric warfare tactics such as missile strikes, drone attacks, or proxy force actions against US interests and allies in the region. The retaliation could target US military bases in the Middle East, disrupt shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf, or even launch cyber attacks or attempts to disrupt global oil supplies.
However, if there's no regime change, US attacks may proceed occasionally, akin to regularly mowing Iran's nuclear "lawn." In this case, Iran's response may be designed to deter or complicate future strikes, rather than triggering an all-out conflict. Diplomatic and covert countermeasures could also accompany military actions, aiming for strategic endurance over immediate escalation.
In conclusion, while further retaliation within the next 48 hours is possible, it's expected to involve missile or proxy strikes on US or allied targets in the region. The response will likely balance demonstrating capability and resolve with managing the risk of wider conflict escalation.
In light of the escalating tension following the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, political discussions and general news are heavily centered around potential war-and-conflicts in the Middle East. Authorities are preparing for possible retaliation from Iran, which might involve missile or proxy strikes on US or allied targets, aiming to deter future attacks while managing the risk of wider conflict escalation.
