Joe Biden is reportedly set to authorize military action in the Middle East as early as Monday evening, according to Sky News. This move comes in response to a recent attack on a U.S. military outpost on the Jordan-Syria border, which resulted in the death of three American soldiers and left more than 30 wounded.
This assault was executed by militia groups with ties to Iran, using an Iranian-manufactured kamikaze drone. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed Shiite militias including the Nujaba Movement, Kataib Hezbollah, Kataib Sayyed al-Shuhada, Ashab al-Kahf, and others, claimed responsibility for the strikes.
Following the incident, President Biden issued a statement saying, “Have no doubt: We will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing”.
The U.S. has experienced an increase in attacks on its bases in the Middle East, with most incidents leading to minor injuries until Sunday’s devastating attack. The specifics of the U.S. military response remain uncertain.
Several U.S. Senators have advocated for strikes on Iran itself, with Senator John Cornyn suggesting direct strikes on downtown Tehran. However, this proposal has been met with substantial negative feedback due to the risk of inciting another major war in the Middle East.
Joseph Votel, a retired U.S. Army general and former head of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Forces Command, stated that U.S. officials are likely “analyzing and evaluating leadership, command and control and supply chain targets associated with the specific militia that orchestrated this attack”.
Votel further explained that the Pentagon might be considering “direct Iranian targets like IRGC-QF [Islamic Revolutionary Guard-Quds Force] leaders, key facilitators as well as command and control and logistic nodes”. He also suggested that maritime assets or coastal targets could be under consideration.
Earlier, President Biden had authorized air and missile strikes on Houthi militant targets in Yemen. The Houthi group, which controls nearly half of Yemen, has been launching attacks on commercial vessels bound for Israeli ports since October 7.
As the situation unfolds, it underscores the complexity and volatility of Middle Eastern politics and highlights the delicate balance required in responding to such attacks. It remains to be seen how these potential military actions will impact regional stability and U.S.-Middle East relations.
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