(TargetLiberty.org) – Following an airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria, attributed to Israel, there is growing concern over potential renewed threats against U.S. forces in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, a senior U.S. Air Force commander, has expressed apprehension that this incident could provoke new attacks on American military installations. The backdrop includes a history of over 150 attacks on U.S. bases in the region after October 7, with a noted decrease in such incidents after the death of three American soldiers in January.
The United States has communicated to Iran that it was not involved in the recent airstrike in Syria. However, Iranian officials have publicly held the U.S. equally accountable, alongside Israel, for the strike. While Israel has not officially confirmed its role, U.S. authorities believe Israel was behind the operation.
In response to the airstrike, Iranian officials have promised quick retaliation, which experts predict will likely be executed through its network of proxy groups, including Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah. Hezbollah, in particular, has declared its intention to seek “punishment and revenge” for the strike, referring to the casualties as “martyrs.”
Yigal Carmon, former adviser on counter-terrorism to Israeli prime ministers and president of the Middle East Media Research Institute, analyzed the situation, suggesting that Iran tends to escalate conflicts when it perceives fear from its adversaries and withdraws when faced with firm deterrence. Carmon interprets the airstrike in Damascus as an Israeli signal of readiness for direct confrontation with Iran, amidst the broader context of conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
The reduction in attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria followed a significant military response from the Biden administration targeting allies of Iran in the region. This response was triggered by an attack that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan, highlighting the volatile and complex nature of Middle Eastern geopolitical dynamics.
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