'Escalation is coming': Middle East on edge as new Israeli-US attack on Iran looms

Escalation is looming in the Middle East as a new Israeli-US attack on Iran appears imminent. US diplomats are preparing for potential embassy evacuations, and Israeli fighter jets have been conducting sorties near the Iranian border. Arab and US officials in the region express the belief that it is a matter of "when, not if," the US and Israel resume attacking Iran.

Iran has threatened retaliation, targeting US-linked data centers, AI facilities, energy installations, and airports across the Gulf, along with airports, in what could be the start of round two of the conflict. Former Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller stated to Middle East Eye, "An escalation is coming. Whether it’s before the US midterms or after is not relevant. The purpose of the escalation is."

Despite a fragile ceasefire signed in April, direct fighting between the US and Iran ceased, but the two failed to implement a six-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June. Many experts view the agreement as granting Iran significant concessions that the Trump administration could not accept.