U.S. sees signs Iran or proxies may be planning more attacks - Pentagon chief

By Idrees Ali

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper leaves after a press briefing at Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., December 20, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday there were indications Iran or forces it backs may be planning additional attacks, warning that the "game has changed" and it was possible the United States might have to take preemptive action to protect American lives.

 

"There are some indications out there that they may be planning additional attacks, that is nothing new ... we've seen this for two or three months now," Esper told reporters, without providing evidence or details about the U.S. assessment.

 

"If that happens then we will act and by the way, if we get word of attacks or some type indication, we will take preemptive action as well to protect American forces to protect American lives."

 

Iranian-backed demonstrators hurled rocks at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad during two days of protests, then withdrew on Wednesday after Washington dispatched extra troops.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, who faces a re-election campaign in 2020, accused Iran of orchestrating the violence. He threatened on Tuesday to retaliate against Iran but said later he did not want war.

 

Iran has rejected the accusation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi criticized American officials, in a statement, saying they have "the astounding audacity" to blame Iran for protests sparked by U.S. air strikes.

 

The unrest outside the U.S. embassy followed American strikes on Sunday against bases of the Tehran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group. Washington said the air strikes, which killed 25 people, were in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a U.S. contractor in northern Iraq last week.

 

On Wednesday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned U.S. attacks on Iranian-allied militias in Iraq, blaming the United States for violence in Iran's neighbour.

 

The protests marked a new turn in the shadow war between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East.

 

"The game has changed and we are prepared to do what is necessary to defend our personnel and our interests and our partners in the region," Esper said.

 

During the same press briefing, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said there had been a sustained campaign by Kataib Hezbollah against U.S. personnel since at least October and the missile attack in northern Iraq was designed to kill.

 

"Thirty-one rockets aren't designed as a warning shot, that is designed to inflict damage and kill," Milley said.

 

He said it was highly unlikely anyone could overrun the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and if they did, they would run into a "buzzsaw."

 

U.S. TROOPS PREPARED TO DEPLOY

The United States sent 750 troops to Kuwait this week and U.S. officials have told Reuters that about 3,000 additional troops could be sent to the region in the coming days.

 

Milley said additional troops had been alerted but a decision had not yet been made on deploying them. Since May, the United States has dispatched about 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East.

 

In his 2016 campaign, Trump promised to extract the United States from "endless wars."

 

In a statement, Esper said the demonstrations outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad were carried out by Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia, saying leaders were seen in the crowd and some members showed up wearing uniforms.

 

He said the series of rocket attacks on bases hosting U.S. forces in Iraq were being directed by the "Iranian regime" and specifically Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leadership.

 

Earlier on Thursday, Revolutionary Guards Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami said: "We are not leading the country to war, but we are not afraid of any war."

 

The Iraqi government has attempted to integrate paramilitary organizations into its armed forces.

 

Esper said he had not seen the Iraqi government take sufficient action on stopping Iran-backed groups from carrying out attacks on U.S. forces and Baghdad needs to double down on efforts to control the groups.

 

(Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken and David Gregorio)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-02

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Not that I condone what Iran seems to be doing but when you break an agreement and try to strangle a country kinda tends to <deleted> them off don’t ya think?totally unessary and 100% belongs to donald j trump are we tired of winning yet?

When the Iranian Yemeni proxies used $20k drones to attack Saudi oil refineries and put out 6% of their capacity at a stroke they sent a strong message to the world. The US needs to hold it's nose and ignore Israeli concerns and talk with them or risk sending the place up in flames and the global economy with it. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Abqaiq–Khurais_attack

 

 

Major escalation beeing reported looks like we killed the top Iranian general looks like a strong possibility of a shooting war hope  not!

27 minutes ago, URMySunshine said:

When the Iranian Yemeni proxies used $20k drones to attack Saudi oil refineries and put out 6% of their capacity at a stroke they sent a strong message to the world. The US needs to hold it's nose and ignore Israeli concerns and talk with them or risk sending the place up in flames and the global economy with it. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Abqaiq–Khurais_attack

 

 

I think the Israelis won't give Trump permission to negotiate.

12 minutes ago, rayluttman said:

I think the Israelis won't give Trump permission to negotiate.

I dont think he much cares what they say. We call the shots, do you think otherwise?

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by Nyezhov

3 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I dont think he much cares what they say. We call the shots, do you think otherwise?

Because he's so well informed? This is a guy who puts a lot of faith in what Putin says. And even worse, what Jared Kushner says. 

49 minutes ago, URMySunshine said:

When the Iranian Yemeni proxies used $20k drones to attack Saudi oil refineries and put out 6% of their capacity at a stroke they sent a strong message to the world. The US needs to hold it's nose and ignore Israeli concerns and talk with them or risk sending the place up in flames and the global economy with it. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Abqaiq–Khurais_attack

You are suggesting that Iran now controls the world economy? That is precisely the reason that Iran has been a continual concern for Western powers for the last 40+ years. And why Iran is supported by Russia. Russia's third world economy (look it up) needs high oil prices.  The West including China need low energy prices.  It is a shame the world works this way but it always has. Small scale fusion though would put an end to most of it.

 

4 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Because he's so well informed? This is a guy who puts a lot of faith in what Putin says. And even worse, what Jared Kushner says. 

Funny, his actions against Putin's love child, Iran, including today's elimination of their top terror general, Gen. Qassim Soleimani, beg to differ.

This unfolding scenario was entirely predictable. The Pentagon warned Trump that if he pursued his harsh policy against Iran that American forces stationed in Iraq would be potential targets. I'm surprised that it has taken this long for said targeting to being. Now with the death of Soleimani and the death of the Iraqi militia leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Trump's heedlessness is going to lead to a lot of unnecessary deaths.

On the bright side, this is very good news for Isis.  

6 minutes ago, rabas said:

Funny, his actions against Putin's love child, Iran, including today's elimination of their top terror general, Gen. Qassim Soleimani, beg to differ.

Ya think Putin is unhappy about this? Ya think it won't further bind Russia and Iran? How does that work?

3 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Ya think Putin is unhappy about this? Ya think it won't further bind Russia and Iran? How does that work?

Russia and a Iran are bound, for a long, long time now.  But taking out Iran's top terror general at the Iraq airport during the attack on the US embassy clearly exposes the Iran lie, not that anyone believes them. 

 

1 minute ago, rabas said:

Russia and a Iran are bound, for a long, long time now.  But taking out Iran's top terror general at the Iraq airport during the attack on the US embassy clearly exposes the Iran lie, not that anyone believes them. 

 

As people who actually follow events in the mideast know, Russia's relation with Iran is a lot more complicated than you apparently believe. In Syria, for example, sometimes they are rivals, sometimes allies.

Russia, Iran, and the competition to shape Syria’s future

https://www.mei.edu/publications/russia-iran-and-competition-shape-syrias-future

By all accounts, Soleimani was a very formidable commander. I don't think Putin is sorry to have him gone from the scene in Syria. 

14 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

As people who actually follow events in the mideast know, Russia's relation with Iran is a lot more complicated than you apparently believe. In Syria, for example, sometimes they are rivals, sometimes allies.

Russia, Iran, and the competition to shape Syria’s future

https://www.mei.edu/publications/russia-iran-and-competition-shape-syrias-future

By all accounts, Soleimani was a very formidable commander. I don't think Putin is sorry to have him gone from the scene in Syria. 

That's a good article but I never suggested Iran was a well behaved love child. Iran is an old civilisation and the only real power in the middle east, thus the world powers' attempts to control it. Though you may be right that the elimination of Gen. Qassim Soleimani could also be a relief to Putin. Putin wants to control the ME, not befriend it. Same for US and Western interests.

 

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by rabas

Dancing in the streets of Baghdad as I write this, according to footage on Al Jazeera. 

Iran doesn't have any friends in the region, other than Syria.  There may be a "brothers in Islam" camaraderie but that's pretty thin.

 

 

 

 

56 minutes ago, rabas said:

You are suggesting that Iran now controls the world economy? That is precisely the reason that Iran has been a continual concern for Western powers for the last 40+ years. And why Iran is supported by Russia. Russia's third world economy (look it up) needs high oil prices.  The West including China need low energy prices.  It is a shame the world works this way but it always has. Small scale fusion though would put an end to most of it.

 

In the short term they have the capacity to do major damage to the middle east oil supply and send prices surging and with that an economic shock that could tip the world into depression. That attack was a shot across the bows , a warning as to how easy it is to have power on the ground with sophisticated fireworks rather than multi-billion dollar aircraft carriers. If Trump deescalates this then for all my loathing of the man he will have done good. 

The US just killed a top Iran General and a top Iraq general in a precision drone strike at Baghdad airport.  Trump's escalating the problems in the middle east rather than pull us out.  Could it be a move to change the nes cycle away from Impeachment.  This is BIG!

1 minute ago, wayned said:

The US just killed a top Iran General and a top Iraq general in a precision drone strike at Baghdad airport.  Trump's escalating the problems in the middle east rather than pull us out.  Could it be a move to change the nes cycle away from Impeachment.  This is BIG!

I am filled with dread - the Iranians took a million dead in the war with Iraq they have a huge capacity for pain and the power to inflict huge damage on our interests. 

What the hell are US forces still doing in Iraq to put themselves in harm's way and creating a provocation. I thought Trump was bringing the troops home, not boosting numbers? They were never invited to Iraq in the first place...just barged their way in on the pretext of looking for non existent WMD.

Done at trump’s direction. A man who dodged serving his country but apparently is happy to start a war and let others die doing so. 
 

Qasem Soleimani: US kills Iran Quds force leader, Pentagon confirms https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-50979463

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by Bluespunk

6 minutes ago, URMySunshine said:

I am filled with dread - the Iranians took a million dead in the war with Iraq they have a huge capacity for pain and the power to inflict huge damage on our interests. 

Looks like it was the US planning more attacks all along not the Shiite militias.

But no doubt in the fog of war the timeline will be muddied.

 

Perhaps Trump is looking for a war to distract from his impeachment. A temporary boost to his re-election chances but not so good when the body bags start coming home.

Hope his bone spurs have heeled so he can lead his troops into battle.

 

Just remember who started all this. Trump been itching for a war with Iran since he reneged on the nuclear deal. The above events would not be happening if he had kept Iran, sanction free, and prosperous.

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by dexterm

How can this not be viewed as an act of terror carried out by the US.

This mess was totally unessary trump owns this like it or not we are paying the price for incompetence 

5 minutes ago, Tug said:

This mess was totally unessary trump owns this like it or not we are paying the price for incompetence 

Yea let them attack the embassy!  defend the 'mourners'!  pathetic

Wag the dog

5 hours ago, bristolboy said:

On the bright side, this is very good news for Isis

Exactly. Moreover, the Kurds have learned that they have no value when there is no ISIS threat. It's a bit the same for Iran. It had no problem as long as it was needed to fight ISIS.

Both the Kurds and Iran have an objective interest in a resurgence of ISIS, as it will legitimize their presence as fighters against ISIS.

7 hours ago, pegman said:

Wag the dog

Bingo.

 

8 hours ago, userabcd said:

How can this not be viewed as an act of terror carried out by the US.

Well not sure about the terror label but much of the world will see this as illegal assassination and an act of war against Iran (and Iraq). Technically the U.S. has an out as they had labelled the Iranian organization he had led as aterrorist one so then it would be legal. But that's a thin excuse. Also as usual the U.S. CONGRESS was not consulted about initiating yet another act of war. 

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by Jingthing

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Well not sure about the terror label but much of the world will see this as illegal assassination and an act of war against Iran (and Iraq). Technically the U.S. has an out as they had labelled the Iranian organization he had led as aterrorist one so then it would be legal. But that's a thin excuse. Also as usual the U.S. CONGRESS was not consulted about initiating yet another act of war. 

Except of course that the US has troops in Iraq that are supposed to be there solely for training purposes. If the attack didn't come from forces based in Iraq and the US didn't get government permission, that means that the US illegally violated Iraqi territory. And, no, technically the US doesn't have an out by unilaterally proclaiming its right to label certain groups as terrorist and go after them no matter where they are.

6 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Except of course that the US has troops in Iraq that are supposed to be there solely for training purposes. If the attack didn't come from forces based in Iraq and the US didn't get government permission, that means that the US illegally violated Iraqi territory. And, no, technically the US doesn't have an out by unilaterally proclaiming its right to label certain groups as terrorist and go after them no matter where they are.

I didn't mean to imply the out was really legit but it's the excuse that will be used. I see 45's action as an act of war against Iran and Iraq but Iran much more so. 

 

Of course as an American this wasn't done in my name but that's what we get with this particular president. 

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by Jingthing