The US is on heightened alert for possible Iranian or proxy attacks in the Middle East, potentially as early as this week, following the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that the US has escalated its military readiness, aligning with Israeli concerns about imminent threats.
The Pentagon has deployed a guided missile submarine and is expediting the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group’s arrival in the region, although it is currently in the South China Sea and will take over a week to reach the Middle East.
These tensions have caused oil prices to surge by 3% on Monday, marking the fifth consecutive day of increases, due to fears of disruptions to global oil supplies. Meanwhile, Israeli forces are active near Khan Younis in Gaza, and international efforts are ongoing to broker a ceasefire and prevent a broader regional conflict involving Iran and its allies.