To Deter Iranian Attacks on U.S. Troops, Pentagon Orders B-52 Flights to Middle East

Over the previous 12 months, Iranian-aligned proxies in Iraq have carried out greater than 50 rocket assaults on bases the place United States troops are housed, in addition to on the American Embassy in Baghdad, and launched 90 assaults on convoys carrying provides to American troops, in line with the Pentagon.

“Briefly, Iran is utilizing Iraq as its proxy battleground towards the US, with Iran’s final goal being to eject the US and our forces from Iraq and the broader Center East,” Normal McKenzie mentioned final month throughout a digital convention on the Center East.

Many senior United States commanders and intelligence analysts say that for the reason that dying of Normal Suleimani, who ran the elite Quds power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran might not train the identical diploma of management over Iranian-backed Shia militias in Iraq that it as soon as did. A few of these militias might lash out with out Tehran’s blessing, presumably inciting escalation and a army change between Iran and the US.

The senior army official, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to explain operations and intelligence assessments, didn’t cite any particular proof of a bigger, imminent assault towards American personnel. However the official mentioned army analysts assessed that the chance of Iran or its proxies miscalculating the dangers of such a strike was increased than ordinary.

This evaluation prompted the extra deterrent measures, the official mentioned.

The US has additionally dispatched a further squadron of strike plane to Saudi Arabia in latest weeks. And the plane provider Nimitz, which had left the Center East on Nov. 15 to take part in a naval train off the coast of India, returned to the area 10 days later, ostensibly to supply safety to the a number of thousand forces that Mr. Trump ordered to withdraw from Afghanistan and Iraq.

“The power to fly strategic bombers midway internationally in a nonstop mission, and to quickly combine them with a number of regional companions, demonstrates our shut working relationships and our shared dedication to regional safety and stability,” Normal McKenzie mentioned.

Tensions had been excessive approaching the anniversary of the killing of Normal Suleimani in Iraq, the place the Trump administration mentioned he was planning assaults on American forces.