US Plans to Intensify Military Strikes on Iran Amid Rising Regional Tensions

The US administration is preparing to significantly increase the scope and intensity of military strikes against Iran, according to reports from i24NEWS on Thursday. The planned escalation includes not only more frequent and powerful attacks but also a substantial expansion of the target list. Israeli defense and political officials are closely monitoring these developments, though the exact timing of the US operation remains uncertain and dependent on decisions from the White House.

In response, Iranian officials have issued direct threats, with a spokesperson from the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters of Iran's armed forces warning that Iranian security forces will deliver "a more severe, extensive, and terrifying blow" than before. Iran has also indicated intentions to expand its missile range if the US escalates its attacks.

Concurrently, Iran is reportedly directing the Houthi movement in Yemen to prepare for blocking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical oil shipping route in the Red Sea. Sources say Iranian Revolutionary Guard representatives in Yemen will determine the timing of this blockade, which would compound the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and severely disrupt global energy supplies, given that 7% of the world's energy passes through the Red Sea.

Israeli intelligence assessments suggest that Iran will maintain relative restraint toward Israel as long as the US does not dramatically escalate its strikes on Iranian soil or strategic assets. Tehran appears focused on confronting American forces rather than opening a direct front against Israel, to avoid a multi-front conflict that could undermine regime interests. Nonetheless, Israeli security officials emphasize that the situation could change rapidly, and defense systems remain on high alert for any scenario. Iran has previously demonstrated a capacity to adjust its strategic calculations based on evolving circumstances, prompting ongoing full preparedness in Israel.