The United States singles out Iran for its active role in recent aggressions in the Middle East, highlighting its support for entities such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
On Monday, the United States formalized accusations against Iran for carrying out attacks against its forces in the Middle East. At the same time, the deployment of military advisors to Israel was confirmed. This action is in response to growing tension in the region, exacerbated by the assassinations carried out by the Hamas terrorist group in Israel on October 7 and Israel‘s subsequent military response in the Gaza Strip.
John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, reported at the White House that ” Iran continues to support Hamas and Hezbollah .” He highlighted Iran‘s involvement in facilitating these attacks, incentivizing other actors interested in benefiting from the conflict.
Referring to Iran’s position, Kirby stated: “We know that Iran ‘s goal is to maintain some level of denial on this issue, but we are not going to allow them to do that.” These statements come after a period of relative calm, which President Joe Biden‘s administration had noted with pro-Iran militias in the region following conversations between US and Iranian officials.
However, since Wednesday, at least five attacks have been recorded targeting three Iraqi military bases housing US troops, part of the coalition formed to combat the Islamic State group. These attacks highlight Iran‘s continued influence over terrorist groups and militias in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah, factions in Iraq, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
A senior US defense official warned on Monday of a possible deterioration in the situation. The official identified these incidents as attempts by Iran and its proxy forces to escalate the current conflict. These actions, according to the official, could prefigure a “much more significant escalation against US forces and personnel in the near term.”
The United States has strengthened its defense commitment to Israel. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby has confirmed the assignment of a select contingent of military advisers to Israel. These experts, according to Kirby, have deep knowledge of operations similar to those that Israel could implement, contributing their experience in the current scenario.
The team of advisors includes Lt. Gen. James Glynn, recognized for his leadership in the Marine Corps and his role in previous conflicts, such as the campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq. His presence responds to the need to provide advanced perspectives and tactical support to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the face of the possibility of future ground interventions. This detail underlines the seriousness of the American involvement in preparing the IDF.
The context of this cooperation is framed in the events of October 7, when Hamas carried out a significant assault, massacring more than 1,400 people. This incident marked a critical point in Israel‘s history since its founding in 1948.
On the other hand, the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health has recorded more than 5,000 casualties, including civilians and combatants, during subsequent Israeli counterattacks. This number includes victims of a hospital explosion in the Gaza Strip on October 17, caused by an errant Islamic Jihad missile, although Hamas has blamed Israel for the incident. In contrast, Israel maintains that, since the beginning of the attacks, it has neutralized approximately 1,500 Hamas terrorists in its territory.
