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The Middle East is rapidly approaching an "extreme scenario" involving a direct conflict between states and a potential U.S. attack on Iran, Israeli media reported Tuesday, as organizers confirmed the region will be the top priority at next month's Munich Security Conference.
Israeli news site Walla reported that regional tensions have seriously escalated in the past 24 hours due to Iran's threats against the U.S. and Israel, continued U.S. military buildup around Iran and heightened alert status in Israel.
"According to assessments, the region is rapidly approaching an extreme scenario involving direct conflict between countries and a U.S. attack on the Iranian regime," the report stated.
The Israeli military is maintaining "high alert and readiness" against possible Iran-originated attacks, with some reserve soldiers awaiting mobilization from their homes or workplaces depending on intelligence warnings, according to unnamed security sources cited in the report.
"In the event of war, the U.S. would provide Israel with a timely warning to prepare for an attack," the sources said.
The Israeli military is also preparing for possible surprises along various borderlines and in the occupied West Bank.
Washington continues deploying air, naval and ground elements around Iran, with initial steps including maintaining a strong military presence against attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, which holds strategic importance for global trade, according to the report.
Various U.S. military aircraft have landed at Middle East bases in recent hours.
"The intensity of military buildup and intelligence activities in the region clearly reveals the White House's intentions toward Iran," the report assessed.
These intentions reportedly include possibilities of "targeted operations against senior officials, targeting security structures affiliated with the Iranian state, or a large-scale move aimed at weakening the regime."
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Reports that Iranian leader Ali Khamenei has been moved to an underground bunker over concerns about possible U.S. attacks demonstrate the extent of regional tensions, the report noted.
"In Tehran, especially in the last 24 hours, uncertainty has given way to alarm due to the large-scale encirclement of Iran by U.S. forces with air and naval elements," the report stated.
Senior Iranian officials have issued direct threats to the U.S. and Israel through harsh statements, declaring any targeting of Iranian territory a "red line."
Revolutionary Guards preparations include increased military unit movements across the country, some commanders moving underground for security reasons, and transport aircraft carrying military equipment landing in different regions, the report claimed.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem also addressed the tensions, stating that Hezbollah would respond if Israel attacked Iran.
Munich Security Conference Foundation Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the Middle East and the implementation of U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza plan will be among the main topics at the 62nd Munich Security Conference, scheduled for Feb. 13-15 in Germany.
"The Middle East will be one of the focal points of the Munich Security Conference to be held in three weeks," Ischinger said.
High-level delegations from almost all regional actors are expected to attend, including senior officials from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, Ischinger noted.
The conference will provide numerous bilateral and multilateral meeting opportunities for the region's senior leaders.
"I hope this will change again in the future if the next steps regarding the implementation of (Trump's) Gaza plan can be initiated. I think this will be a very important topic for the Munich Security Conference," Ischinger said.
Unlike previous years, Iran has not been invited to the conference due to its "repression of anti-government protesters," Ischinger said.
"The Iranian government will not be represented in Munich this year. We made this decision after the massacres in Iran. We do not think it is an appropriate time to hold talks with their government right now. There may be opportunities in the future, but it is not an appropriate time now," he said.
Over 20 heads of state, 24 prime ministers, over 60 foreign ministers, and 37 defense ministers have confirmed participation, along with heads of 44 international organizations.
Ischinger noted that Europe has been "essentially pushed aside" and unable to play a meaningful, constructive role in the Middle East conflict, with Europeans not undertaking any significant initiatives in this direction in recent years.
The three-day conference, among the world's leading forums in international security, will bring together world leaders and foreign and defense ministers to address global issues.
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