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A senior US official confirmed to Walla on Saturday night the existence of an intelligence memo sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser, containing serious warnings of Iranian plans to attack American government officials and civilians in the Middle East and other regions.

According to an intelligence document obtained by Axios, efforts to harm American diplomats and senior officials in the Middle East and beyond have increased significantly, with some plots reaching advanced stages. The threats have prompted the US State Department to reduce American diplomatic presence across multiple embassies in the region.

The State Department has instructed non-essential staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia, whilst simultaneously reducing personnel at embassies in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. According to sources speaking to CNN, this move comes against a backdrop of escalating Houthi attacks and concerns of regional escalation.

The intelligence assessment represents one of the most serious Iranian threat evaluations in recent months, with particular concern focused on coordinated plots in the Middle East region.

Sources: Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Ynet

Update 03:02: Iranian officials have threatened to target critical Gulf undersea cables if military conflict resumes, warning the US not to ‘play with fire.’