ISLAMABAD: Amid escalating tensions triggered by nationwide protests in Iran and threats by US President Donald Trump to intervene in support of demonstrators, international news agency Reuters has reported that the United States may launch a military intervention in Iran within the next 24 hours.

According to the report, the US has begun withdrawing some of its personnel from military bases in the Middle East, a move being seen as a clear early indicator of a potential American strike. The development comes as tensions in the region continue to rise rapidly.

A US official told Reuters that the move was taken as a precautionary measure after Iran warned neighbouring countries that American military bases in the region would be targeted if the US carried out an attack.

Another US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that due to increasing regional instability, personnel were being pulled back from key military installations. In the same context, Britain has also started withdrawing some of its staff from an airbase in Qatar.

A Western military official was quoted by Reuters as saying that “all signs point to the possibility of a US attack in the near future.”

Two European officials told the news agency that US military action could take place within the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, an Israeli official said it appeared that President Trump had already made the decision to intervene, although there was no final clarity regarding the timing or scale of the action.

Qatar has also confirmed that staff numbers are being reduced at Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military base in the Middle East, citing the “current regional tensions” as the reason for the move.