2024-04-22 11:26:05
Washington: At the end of last week, America helped Israel in stopping a major attack by Iranian missiles and drones. This success signaled that America was well prepared militarily for whatever was to come. There are indications that Iran and Israel are moving towards direct conflict. But current and former US officials say US forces are not deployed for a major, sustained Middle East conflict. If the crisis deepens, the Pentagon may have to rethink assumptions about military needs in the region.
America is incapable even in helping Israel
Michael Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East under the Trump administration, said, “I don’t think we have all the forces we would want to support Israel if there were a direct war between them and Iran.” However, Tehran has indicated it has no plans to retaliate for Friday’s apparent Israeli attack. The tit-for-tat attacks have raised fears of an unexpected regional war, which the US has tried to prevent.
America has temporarily deployed troops
The war continues in Gaza after Hamas’ attack on Israel. This war has spread unrest throughout the Middle East. For this reason, America has sent thousands of American soldiers to the area, where American presence was continuously declining for years. But many of those new U.S. troops are on warships and planes that fly in and out of the region, and are deployed only temporarily.
Intelligence information gave America an edge
“What this means for the U.S. military is that I think we have to rethink our strategy about what we need to do in the region,” said Joseph Votel, a retired four-star Army general who led U.S. troops in the Middle East. Sustainable (military) capabilities have to be maintained.” Votel and other former officials said the U.S. military’s success in shooting down Iranian drones and missiles last Saturday was probably made possible by detailed U.S. intelligence gathering that helped the Pentagon estimate the timing and targets of Iran’s attack. Was provided. “I think the bigger concern is our ability to remain responsive over a sustained period of time,” Votel said.
Threat of war remains in the Middle East
US officials say it appears Iran does not want a full-scale war with Israel. This is why Tehran has not given much importance to Friday’s attack. Nevertheless, experts warn that the situation is unpredictable, especially as long as the Israel–Hamas conflict continues. U.S. Army Gen. Michael “Eric” Kurilla, the current head of Central Command, told lawmakers last month that he had requested more troops than the Pentagon has sent to his region, which President Joe Biden’s administration has ordered from China. It is said to be of lower priority than the challenges being faced.
US military capability reduced in Middle East
In written testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, Kurilla said that dangerous reductions in U.S. intelligence assets, targeting expertise and linguists “reduce our ability to detect and disrupt plots by violent extremist organizations, enhancing freedom of movement, and Although Kurilla’s comments focused more on Afghanistan, some intelligence shortcomings have already affected US strategy since the war in Gaza began.