Tyr-Ziu Saxnot
09-06-2013, 08:18 PM
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323893004579057271019210230.html?r u=yahoo?mod=yahoo_itp Iran Plots Revenge, U.S. Says
Officials Say Intercepted Message to Militants Orders Reprisals in Iraq if Syria Hit
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By JULIAN E. BARNES
and ADAM ENTOUS
CONNECT
WASHINGTON—The U.S. has intercepted an order from Iran to militants in Iraq to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American interests in Baghdad in the event of a strike on Syria, officials said, amid an expanding array of reprisal threats across the region.
The U.S. has intercepted communications between Iran and Shiite militants in Iraq involving orders to the militia groups to attack the U.S. Embassy and other U.S. interests in Baghdad in the event of an American strike in Syria. Julian Barnes has more. Photo: AP.
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Military officials have been trying to predict the range of possible responses from Syria, Iran and their allies. U.S. officials said they are on alert for Iran's fleet of small, fast boats in the Persian Gulf, where American warships are positioned. U.S. officials also fear Hezbollah could attack the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
While the U.S. has moved military resources in the region for a possible strike, it has other assets in the area that would be ready to respond to any reprisals by Syria, Iran or its allies.
Enlarge Image
image
imageAgence France-Presse/Getty Images
A wounded person was carried to an ambulance following what the opposition said were Syrian regime airstrikes in the rebel-held province of Idlib.
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Those deployments include a strike group of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and three destroyers in the Red Sea, and an amphibious ship, the USS San Antonio, in the Eastern Mediterranean, which would help with any evacuations.
More
U.S. Orders Diplomats to Leave Lebanon
Iran's Spymaster Counters U.S. Moves in the Mideast (4/6/12)
.
The U.S. military has also readied Marines and other assets to aid evacuation of diplomatic compounds if needed, and the State Department began making preparations last week for potential retaliation against U.S. embassies and other interests in the Middle East and North Africa.
Officials Say Intercepted Message to Militants Orders Reprisals in Iraq if Syria Hit
.
By JULIAN E. BARNES
and ADAM ENTOUS
CONNECT
WASHINGTON—The U.S. has intercepted an order from Iran to militants in Iraq to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American interests in Baghdad in the event of a strike on Syria, officials said, amid an expanding array of reprisal threats across the region.
The U.S. has intercepted communications between Iran and Shiite militants in Iraq involving orders to the militia groups to attack the U.S. Embassy and other U.S. interests in Baghdad in the event of an American strike in Syria. Julian Barnes has more. Photo: AP.
.
Military officials have been trying to predict the range of possible responses from Syria, Iran and their allies. U.S. officials said they are on alert for Iran's fleet of small, fast boats in the Persian Gulf, where American warships are positioned. U.S. officials also fear Hezbollah could attack the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
While the U.S. has moved military resources in the region for a possible strike, it has other assets in the area that would be ready to respond to any reprisals by Syria, Iran or its allies.
Enlarge Image
image
imageAgence France-Presse/Getty Images
A wounded person was carried to an ambulance following what the opposition said were Syrian regime airstrikes in the rebel-held province of Idlib.
.
Those deployments include a strike group of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and three destroyers in the Red Sea, and an amphibious ship, the USS San Antonio, in the Eastern Mediterranean, which would help with any evacuations.
More
U.S. Orders Diplomats to Leave Lebanon
Iran's Spymaster Counters U.S. Moves in the Mideast (4/6/12)
.
The U.S. military has also readied Marines and other assets to aid evacuation of diplomatic compounds if needed, and the State Department began making preparations last week for potential retaliation against U.S. embassies and other interests in the Middle East and North Africa.