Shafaq News- Baghdad
The US Embassy in Baghdad issued a security alert onWednesday, urging all American citizens present in Iraq to depart the countryimmediately in light of recent regional developments.
The embassy emphasized that Iraq remains under a Level 4travel advisory —its highest designation— which carries the directive: do nottravel to Iraq for any reason. For those already in the country, the embassy'sguidance was: leave now.
US War Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the United Stateswould launch new strikes on Iran, declaring that US Central Command would be"busy tonight" after President Donald Trump vowed to hit Tehran"hard" unless it agreed to a deal with Washington.
Trump also convened his national security team to discussthe next phase of the US response. According to two US sources cited by Axios,one option under consideration is a military operation that would be “big inscale but short in duration,” aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran “to changeits position in the negotiations.”
Air defense systems were activated in Fars and westernTehran, according to Mehr News Agency, which reported no explosions at thatlocation.
Israel's Channel 12 reported that the Israeli militaryraised its alert level in preparation for a possible resumption of hostilitieswith Iran.