[ad_1]
WASHINGTON – The United States has seen growing indications that Iran may be planning an attack on U.S. forces or interests in the Middle East, according to a U.S. official.
The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, admitted that reading Iran’s intentions was “difficult and sometimes unpredictable.”
But the indications are taken seriously, the official said. The first anniversary of the U.S. murder of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani is days away.
Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq on January 3, 2020, in what the Defense Department called “defensive action” because he claimed that Iranian force chief Quds was developing plans to attack the Americans. Iran launched missiles against US forces in Iraq in response to the killings days later.
This week, the United States flew B-52 bombers based at an air base in Minot, North Dakota, in the Middle East, in a “deliberate appearance,” the United States Central Command said during the second show of force this month.
The United States recently accused what it said was an Iranian-backed militia of a December 20 rocket attack on the Baghdad Green Zone, in which 21 rockets were fired. No one was injured or killed.
Javad Zarif, Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a Tweet Thursday, opposed the B-52 flights and wrote: “Iraq intelligence points to a plot to MAKE a pretext for war.”
On December 23, referring to the rocket attack that damaged the US Embassy in the Green Zone, President Donald Trump had tweeted: “Some friendly health advice to Iran: If an American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think about it.”
“We would be happy with the de-escalation,” the US official said on Thursday, adding that amid the uncertainty the situation continues to be closely monitored.
The tensions arise weeks before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in, and the Iranian regime has sent clear signals that it wants U.S. sanctions lifted – something an attack could jeopardize.
Also Thursday, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was ordered to return to its US home port after a 10-month deployment to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, the Pentagon said.
“We continue to monitor Iran very closely,” Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller told NBC News in a statement Thursday evening.
“While I hope we enter 2021 peacefully and without conflict, the Department stands ready to stand up for the American people and their interests,” he said.
Phil helsel contributed.
[ad_2]
Source link