Iran is taking advantage of Gaza situation, US says

CENTCOM chief warns Senate of unprecedented security challenges in the Middle East, citing Iran’s regional influence and escalating attacks on U.S. forces

Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), addressed the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, highlighting a series of crises converging in the Middle East.

Kurilla noted that the region had shown signs of “unprecedented and transformative progress” a year ago. However, he emphasized that today, it faces its most volatile security situation in the past 50 years. “This is not the same central region as last year,” Kurilla remarked, discussing the fiscal year 2025 defense authorization request and the Future Years Defense Program.

Referring to the events of Oct. 7, Kurilla pointed out that they had not only permanently changed Israel and Gaza but also “created the conditions for malign actors to sow instability throughout the region and beyond.”

He specifically mentioned Iran, noting its exploitation of what they perceived as a unique opportunity to reshape the Middle East to their advantage. Iran, according to Kurilla, is utilizing its proxies in various countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, and Yemen.

The general highlighted incidents such as Houthi attacks on international shipping and attacks by Iranian-aligned militias on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria as direct results of Iran’s gradually expanding threat.

Speaking about U.S. military actions, Kurilla reminded the committee of the series of strikes against Iran-backed militant groups in Iraq and Syria. These strikes were in response to an attack in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers. He specifically mentioned the elimination of a Kataib Hezbollah commander responsible for planning direct attacks on U.S. forces in the region.

“I think that’s sent a very strong deterrent message, and we have not had an attack in 32 days in Iraq and Syria. But, I will tell you that deterrence is temporary,” Kurilla added.

He further informed the committee of 173 attacks on U.S. positions in Iraq and Syria since Oct. 7, with the U.S. responding to these attacks eight times.

Since the Israeli army intensified attacks on the Gaza Strip last Oct. 7 following a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas, U.S. military bases in Syria and Iraq have been targets of drones and rocket attacks.

Source: Newsroom

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