Pentagon officials say military-flexing is intended to warn Tehran against attacking American interests or personnel on January 3, the anniversary of the assassination of General Qasim Soleimani, the powerful Iranian leader of the Trump administration.
At the same time, Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on Wednesday ruled that the aircraft carrier was a U.S. Against Nimitz’s pressure to increase tensions in the Persian Gulf, sending Iran out of the region in a clear de-escalation signal, according to a senior defense official. Officer.
Contradictory messages may reflect sections inside the Pentagon, where another senior defense official tells CNN that Iran’s current threat level is the highest it has seen since Soleimani’s death. Officials have cited new intelligence that allied military groups in Iran and Iraq are plotting attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Iran, for example, is moving short-range ballistic missiles into Iraq, prompting the US to deploy additional military assets in the region.
Yet others at the Pentagon argue that the threat is being exaggerated, with the first senior defense official – who is directly involved in the discussion – telling CNN that the “Korobora rating” suggesting an attack by Iran may not be a single piece of Intel. Imminent
President Donald Trump has sparked some uncertainty, saying in a meeting in mid-November he was asking if he could use military options against Iran. He then threatened Iran after a December 21 attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad that senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, blamed the Iraqi military for its involvement in Tehran.
“Our embassy in Baghdad was hit by several rockets on Sunday,” Trump tweeted from the Air Tower after the December 23 White House meeting on Iran threats. “Three rockets failed to launch. Suppose they were from: Iran.”
Trump then “gave Iran some friendly health advice: I’ll hold Iran accountable if an American is killed. Think about it.”
The defense official tells CNN that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is General. Mark Mille “is paying close attention to the situation. The military does not believe the attack is imminent, but during security they are taking all precautions to prevent Iran. U.S. forces.”
This was the second B-52 flight this month, the Pentagon has sent nuclear-capable bombers into the region. It follows the Navy’s December 21 announcement that it had sent nuclear-powered submarines through the Persian Gulf, including guided-missile cruisers.
The U.S. military, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, The Central Command said in a statement that Wednesday’s B-52 flight was meant to “focus on the U.S. military’s commitment to regional security and demonstrate its unique ability to deploy a formidable combat force quickly on short notice.”
Miller U.S.S. Before Nimitz was recalled, which was due to leave the Gulf, the Centcom Commander-in-Chief. Kenneth McKenzie was pushing to increase the deployment of warships there, which could be the longest aircraft deployment in many years, a senior defense official told CNN earlier.
The official expressed concern that some people within the government were portraying the situation with Iran in a more horrific way than before and that the anniversary of Soleimani’s assassination was pre-occupied with the possibility of a retaliatory attack by Iran.
After Soleimani was killed by an American drone strike in Iraq in January, Iran has been pushing the U.S. into the region. Responded to a large missile attack on military bases.
Now, the U.S. The intelligence gathered by the intelligence passed to Hussein indicated that there was a “probable imminent attack” on the U.S. military in Iraq by Iranian-backed forces, although there was no confirmation, a defense official told CNN.
However, the concern is so significant that additional protective measures have been put in place for U.S. troops, the officer and another defense official told CNN. Both declined to mention what action is being taken.
Three U.S. defense officials tell CNN that Iran is conducting additional surgeries in Iraq, including short-range ballistic missiles, an arsenal that officials believe could hit U.S. targets.
Another senior military official said the U.S. had intelligence indicating that militia groups were meeting with elements of the Iranian Quds Force in an earlier operation led by Solima, adding that there was evidence of military forces planning complex attacks in Iraq. U.S. Iran will need help to succeed.
A U.S. defense official said “there have been a number of associated indications of advanced planning and preparation for attacks in Iraq aimed at the US military and US interests.”
Officials have insisted that there are no plans or preparations being made for any offensive action directed at Iran, and that U.S. Efforts to strengthen the army are not about advance strikes but about preventing attacks.
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