US intelligence indicates that Iran has been preparing for the possibility of attacking US bases

According to the New York Times, U.S. officials familiar with the matter say Iran is ready with missiles and other military equipment to launch attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East if the United States joins Israel in its war against Iran. The report says the United States has sent about 36 tankers to Europe that could be used to assist in protecting fighter jets at U.S. bases or to extend the range of bombers that could launch attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. As Israel presses the White House to intervene in the conflict with Iran, U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about a broader war. If the United States joins Israel in launching an attack on Fordo, Iran's vital nuclear facility, the Iranian-backed Houthis would almost certainly resume attacks on Red Sea ships, officials said. They added that pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and Syria could try to attack American bases there. In the event of an attack, other officials said, Iran could begin laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a tactic aimed at trapping American warships in the Persian Gulf.