At the main al-Udeid base in Qatar – which is used by British and American forces – air raid sirens were tested and essential personnel moved to “hard protection sites”.
With expectations of strikes in a possible war with Iran, the UK and US have begun evacuating key personnel from key Middle East bases.
At the main al-Udeid base in Qatar – which is used by British and American forces – air raid sirens were tested and essential personnel moved to “hard protection sites”. It comes amid fear of retaliation after Donald Trump’s veiled threat to act “very strongly” if Tehran executes protesters who took to the streets – and on Wednesday night, the UK pulled its diplomats out of Iran.
It’s understood the decision was made after an assessment of the security situation. A Government spokesperson said: “We have temporarily closed the British Embassy in Tehran, this will now operate remotely. Foreign Office travel advice has now been updated to reflect this consular change.”
At the same time Israeli forces are on high alert for a Tehran revenge attack, believing their country would be a target if the US does hit Iranian military sites. One source told the Mirror: “Israel has adjusted its defensive posture as it is believed an American strike on Iran is now very possible.”
The source added: “All intelligence agencies and security forces in Israel are preparing for an Iranian response if the US does launch strikes as it is a target.” Non-essential US staff are also being moved from bases in Iraq in case pro-Iranian militia open fire on American targets.
It’s believed an American response to the crisis is waiting for “military assets” to move into the region, possibly a US Carrier strike force and warplanes. The Qatar base al-Udeid is the US’s main air base in the region and is believed to house 10,000 US troops. The crisis follows US President Donald Trump ’s veiled threat to act “very strongly” if Iran goes ahead and executes protesters who have taken to the streets in the past fortnight.
On Wednesday night, however, Mr Trump said he had received information that there were to be no executions. But he reiterated that he would be watching Iran closely regarding potential military action.
He said: “We have been notified and pretty strongly – but we’ll find out what that all means – but we’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping and it’s stopped, and there’s no plan for executions. I’ve been told that on good authority.” He added, however, “if it happens, we’ll all be very upset”.
It’s believed thousands of people attending anti-regime rallies have been killed in the bloody uprising, although the protesters have been unarmed. One focus is on the plight of father and protester Efran Soltani, 26, who was arrested and earmarked for execution some time today.
It has led to fears of further widespread bloodshed. Iran’s judiciary head signalled on Wednesday there would be fast trials and executions ahead for suspects detained in protests despite the Trump warning.
It happened after activists had warned hangings of those detained could come soon. The security force crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,586, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
The current death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest in Iran in decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Trump has repeatedly warned that the U.S. may take military action over the killing of peaceful protesters, just months after it bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day war launched by Israel.
Mirror sources added that the US needs to avoid further “civilian casualties.” Some targets may include Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters and facilities and perhaps even regime figure heads- possibly even the Supreme Leader Ayotollah Khamenei.
The source added: “It will be essential any attack avoids at all costs harming civilians. So the targets will likely include the IRGC and military facilities, possibly even a return to the nuclear sites,.” Iran meanwhile has warned it could make a preemptive strike after alleging without offering evidence that Israel and the United States orchestrated the protests.
A U.S. official said some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar have been advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening. A mass funeral also held Wednesday for some 100 security force members killed in the demonstrations.
Tens of thousands of mourners attended, holding Iranian flags and photos of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The caskets, covered in Iranian flags, stood stacked at least three high. Red and white roses and framed photographs of people who were killed covered them.
People elsewhere remained fearful in the streets. Plainclothes security forces still milled around some neighborhoods, though anti-riot police and members of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force appeared to have been sent back to their barracks.
One mother of two said: “We are very frightened because of these sounds (of gunfire) and protests. We have heard many are killed and many are injured. Now peace has been restored but schools are closed and I’m scared to send my children to school again.”
Ahmadreza Tavakoli, 36, said he witnessed one demonstration in Tehran and was shocked by the use of firearms by authorities. He said: “People were out to express themselves and protest, but quickly it turned into a war zone.
“The people do not have guns. Only the security forces have guns.” Asked about possible executions Trump said: “We will take very strong action,” Trump said. “If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action.”
“We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen. And you know, if they want to have protests, that’s one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hanging – we’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good.”
