WASHINGTON: Reports have emerged recently that Iran allegedly could bepreparing to conduct a military strike in the region in what is presumed tobe the last days of President Donald Trumplinkinoffice.
We have placed the American troopslinkdeployed to the Middle East region on “heightened alert” due to a potentialstrike by Iran, Politico reported on Thursday, citing a military official.
The Pentagon is closely watching “troubling indicators of potential attackpreparations” on the part of Tehran, the official said.
Rumours have arisen recently that reducing US military personnel in theMiddle East, namely in Iraq and Afghanistan, would provide an opportunityfor Iran to carry out military strikes in the region. An Axios report alsoclaimed last month that the Israeli military was put on alert over fears ofpotential retaliatory attacks against Israel by Iran.
Top US general in the Middle East, CENTCOM chief Frank McKenzielinkhasconfirmed Thursday reports of a drawdown of American diplomatic personnelin Iraq to reduce exposure to possible Iranian attacks. The move, describedas small-scale and temporary, is timed to the upcoming first anniversary ofthe US airstrike that killed Iranian top military commander Qasem Soleimanion 3 January.
“That is a small drawdown… The Ambassador will remain, core embassyfunctions will remain”, McKenzie said in an interview to the Defence Onemedia outlet. “It was a smart thing to do to reduce our attack surface”.
Speculation over a potential military attack has intensified following theassassination of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadehlink.Iranian officials have accused the Israeli government of targetingFakhrizadeh for a long time, claiming he was killed by its Mossadintelligence agency and pledging to take revenge for his death.
While Tel Aviv has neither refuted, not confirmed the accusations, Israelbelieves Fakhrizadeh headed a secret unit within the Iranian militaryallegedly working on a nuclear weapon. Following the scientist’s death,media reported, citing US officials, that Fakhrizadeh could have beenkilled in an attempt to thwart Biden’s re-engagement with Iran.
Iran, however, has repeatedly dismissed claims of developing nuclearweapons, insisting its nuclear programme serves purely peaceful purposes.
The latest and most serious escalation in the region was witnessed almost ayear ago, when Iran launched rockets at the Ayn al Asad airbase in westernIraq, where US troops were stationed at that time. Tehran said it was aretaliatory attack for the assassination of former IRGC commander Soleimaniin a targeted US strike on Baghdad International airport.
Suleiman was a highly praised figure in Iran, respected for combatingterrorist and militants groups in the region and considered the architectof the country’s modern security infrastructure.
Courtesy: (Sputnik)