TEL AVIV — The expected arrival today of the USS Gerald R. Ford in Haifa — the world’s largest aircraft carrier — along with related military buildups over the past 24 hours, has pushed tensions in Israel to their highest level since the mass protests in Iran last month, when Israeli security officials assessed that a US strike on the Islamic Republic was imminent.

On the face of it, it appears that the US is preparing for war. As the Gerald R. Ford approached the port at Haifa Friday morning, the US Embassy in Israel issued a travel advisory warning that "persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available." The statement added that Washington has authorized the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members due to safety risks.

Preparing for war?

Hundreds of American soldiers have recently arrived in Israel, and most of them are not stationed in the southern city of Kiryat Gat, at the large US-operated Civil Military Coordination Center focused on the rehabilitation of Gaza, according to Israel's Channel 12. Instead, they are spread across Israeli military bases, mostly air force bases, per the report.