The Iranian Revolutionary Guard issued an urgent warning to civilians in the Middle East, calling on them to stay away from sites where American forces are stationed, in a move that reflects escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. Agence France-Presse quoted an official statement published by the Guard on its website, “Sepah News,” that the American forces “are trying to exploit civilian sites and innocent people as human shields,” which exposes the lives of civilians to direct danger. The statement added: “We advise all civilians to leave the sites where American forces are stationed immediately to avoid any potential damage,” in an indication of the possibility of widening escalation.