An official from the White House has raised the alarm once more about Iran’s support for groups who assault US military in the Middle East. In an interview with Phil Mattingly of “CNN This Morning” on November 7, National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby called the Iranian regime a “destabilizing actor” in the area.
According to Kirby, Iranian forces have not yet launched an attack on US territory. The Iranian regime’s funding for well-known extremist organizations has the White House worried that it may meddle in regional conflicts. They back terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, he said.
In light of recent attacks on US forces, Mattingly questioned the NSC coordinator on whether or not the region was headed for a full-scale war. However, Kirby did note recent attempts at posturing and retaliation and refrained from giving a particular forecast. He assured that the military will keep an eye on developments and use more forceful demonstrations if necessary.
It’s crucial to understand that Kirby’s concerns aren’t new. On October 23 at a press briefing at the White House, the retired admiral expressed similar views. He warned that there was a “very direct connection” between the IRGC and extremist groups in the region.
U.S. personnel and bases in the Middle East have been under threat from what Kirby calls “Iranian proxy forces” for some time. On October 18, a multi-pronged drone strike on Al Asad Airbase and Al-Tanf Garrison resulted in the injury of at least two dozen soldiers, according to a spokesperson for US Central Command who talked with NBC News.
During a previous briefing, Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, confirmed that the military was keeping an eye on a rapid escalation of targeted hostilities. Equally concerned that the “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian regime” were behind the attacks on US forces and personnel, he issued a similar warning.
According to Ryder, the Department of Defense was already in the midst of resource mobilization to deal with the catastrophe. Defense units and missile battalions were strategically relocated to the region from Fort Bliss, Fort Liberty, and Fort Hill, while the powerful USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group was dispatched to CENTCOM.
