The United States is reportedly expecting a “mass casualty response” if Israel bombs Iran’s nuclear facilities.
On Wednesday, the State Department ordered the departure of all nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
Further, it authorized nonessential personnel and family members to leave the Persian Gulf nations of Bahrain and Kuwait, which are also in the immediate vicinity of Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “has authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations” across the Persian Gulf region, U.S. Central Command said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. The command “is monitoring the developing tension in the Middle East.”
President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter Thursday if a strike by Israel against Iran is imminent.
“I don’t want to say imminent, but it looks like it’s something that could very well happen,” he responded. “Look, it’s very simple, not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Other than that, I want them to be successful.”
Trump noted he stopped a full-on war between India and Pakistan from breaking out, which he thought likely would have resulted in nuclear weapons being exchanged.
The implication seemed to be that there is still hope the Israeli strike against Iran may be averted.
Hellbound and Down 