The Pentagon communicated on Monday that there is no concrete proof implicating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in orchestrating assaults against American forces in the Middle East. Nonetheless, the United States holds Iran accountable for these militant activities “because they are supported by Iran”.
Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon’s spokesperson, issued this statement in the wake of escalating hostilities in Iraq and Syria, perpetrated by factions backed by Iran.
Ever since the hostilities by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, American military personnel have been subjected to recurrent missile and drone strikes.
“We haven’t seen a direct order, for example, from the Supreme Leader saying: ‘Go out and do this'”, Ryder informed Reuters published it.
Yet, Ryder emphasized that the United States attributes these militant activities to Iran and is ready “without hesitation” to safeguard its troops.
High-ranking members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, cautioned on Sunday about the potential for a marked intensification of attacks on American forces in the Middle East. They also indicated that Iran aims to exacerbate the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
John Kirby, the National Security Council’s Strategic Communications Coordinator, stated on Monday that Iran has, in certain instances, “actively facilitated” missile and drone strikes by its proxy groups against US military bases in Iraq and Syria. In response, President Biden has directed the Department of Defense to heighten its state of readiness and take appropriate measures.
Kirby added that the United States is convinced that these factions receive support from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian government, which also continues to back Hamas and Hezbollah.
“We are aware that Iran is keenly observing these developments and, in some instances, actively facilitating these attacks and encouraging others who may wish to capitalize on this conflict for their own advantage or that of Iran,” he articulated.
“We are deeply concerned about the potential for any significant escalation of these attacks in the days ahead,” Kirby added. “We understand that Iran’s aim is to continue to deny its involvement, but we will not permit it to do so. We will also not overlook any threats to our interests in the region.”
Over the past weekend, the Pentagon’s chief authorized the deployment of new air defense systems to the Middle East to bolster the protection of American troops. He announced that the THAAD missile defense system, along with additional Patriot surface-to-air missile battalions, would be dispatched to the region.
To further deter Iran and its affiliated groups from participating in the conflict, the United States has also deployed naval vessels and fighter aircraft to the region. Specifically, two aircraft carriers and approximately 2,000 marines have been dispatched.
“No one wants to see a wider regional conflict, but we will not hesitate to protect our forces,” Ryder concluded.
Last week, American forces in Iraq were targeted by drone strikes, and a US naval vessel intercepted over a dozen drones and four cruise missiles launched by the US-supported Houthis off the Yemeni coast.
