Tensions in the Middle East have sharply escalated following reports that a U.S. carrier strike group is moving from the South China Sea to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East. Multiple credible sources corroborate this deployment, specifically identifying the USS Abraham Lincoln as the aircraft carrier leading the strike group. This military movement comes amidst widespread anti-government protests in Iran, driven by soaring inflation, economic hardship, and mounting public anger over governance. In response, Iran has issued stern warnings, stating it would retaliate against U.S. military facilities across the region if Washington were to launch an attack. Iranian officials have reportedly conveyed this threat to regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, emphasizing that U.S. bases on their territory would be targeted in such an event. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared Iran is on its highest level of combat readiness, and its missile stockpile has reportedly increased since a conflict with Israel last year. Further indicating heightened regional instability, some U.S. and European personnel are being withdrawn from Middle East bases as a precautionary measure. Iran also briefly closed its airspace, citing security concerns, impacting international flights. The situation underscores a significant shift in U.S. military posture and intensified geopolitical friction, with the U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening intervention amidst the Iranian unrest.