Mideast on war footing after Gen Soleimani’s killing, Israel mobilises tanks at Syria & Lebanon border

London: Iran has vowed to take ‘crushing revenge’ for the US’ assassination of Major-General Qassem Soleimani. While the world is debating on what Iran’s next move would be, the military movements in the Middle East have intensified. The US soldiers who had arrived in Kuwait are preparing to enter Iraq. On the other hand, given the increased possibility of attacks from Iran and Iran-backed groups, Israel has deployed its tanks on the Syria-Lebanon border.

Iran could launch millions of rockets on Israel, a close US ally, to avenge the killing of Major-General Qassem Soleimani. Senior Iranian military officials, as also Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis and Iran-backed groups in Iraq had issued such threats in the past. Considering the chances of the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel after abandoning his Greece visit midway.

In the last few hours, Israel stepped up its military deployment on the Lebanon-Syria border. Given the possible threat of missile and rocket attacks from Syria and Lebanon, Israel deployed a large fleet of tanks at borders of both the countries, Syria and Lebanon. Additionally, fighter jets instructed to remain on high alert, and Israel even bolstered security for its embassies around the world.

Hezbollah chief, Hassan Nasrallah, has also threatened to avenge Soleimani’s assassination while the Iran-backed militia in Syria declared that Major-General Soleimani’s work would be carried forward. The Iran-backed groups in Syria have established a significant number of bases near the Israel-Golan border. Analysts from the West have, therefore, claimed the threat of possible attacks on Israel from Syria, had intensified.

Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz to stop the oil and trade movement through the Persian Gulf. Considering the growing probability, the United States has indicated sending additional soldiers for the Middle Eastern states. Furthermore, the US ground forces, that arrived at Kuwait are preparing to enter Iraq through the state’s southern border.

Countries such as the UK and France, appealing not to escalate the conflict in the Middle East, have ordered their armies to remain ready for war as well. Moreover, even NATO indicated it was on a war footing by informing that it was closely following the developments in the Middle East.

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