U.S. Military Increases Force Protection in the Middle East Amid Growing Threats
The U.S. military is ramping up efforts to safeguard its troops in the Middle East as concerns rise over potential attacks by Iran-backed groups. Reuters reporters have been informed by anonymous officials that these measures include boosted military patrols, restricted access to base facilities, intelligence collection through drone and surveillance operations, and enhanced monitoring from guard towers. The U.S. military is also reinforcing security at base access points and stepping up operations to counter potential threats like drones, rockets, and missiles.
U.S. Army General Michael Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, stresses the importance of continuously reviewing force protection measures due to the surge in attacks and attempted attacks on U.S. military locations. General Kurilla emphasizes that these measures, along with the deployment of additional military assets to the region, have prevented more serious casualties among U.S. forces.
The U.S. military has been repeatedly targeted in Iraq and Syria since the start of the Israel-Gaza conflict on October 7. Up to this point, four U.S. service members and five U.S. military contractors have sustained minor injuries from these attacks. Additionally, a U.S. warship recently intercepted over a dozen drones and four cruise missiles fired by Iranian-backed Houthis off the coast of Yemen.
The escalating tensions have put U.S. personnel on high alert. Tragically, during a false alarm at Al-Asad air base in Iraq, a civilian contractor suffered cardiac arrest and passed away. While the specific circumstances that might trigger the evacuation of U.S. military families have not been disclosed, one anonymous military official suggests that if the threat level to dependents of U.S. service members in the region appears to rise, caution will prevail.
Senior officials in the Biden administration, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have warned of the potential for major escalation in attacks on American troops in the Middle East. They believe that Iran could seek to widen the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. To safeguard troops, Austin has ordered the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to the Middle East, in addition to sending warships and fighter aircraft as a deterrent. The U.S. has also deployed two aircraft carriers to the region.
The Pentagon has not seen a direct order from Iran’s highest levels to carry out the attacks, but it is clear to the White House that Iran is facilitating them. According to Iranian security officials, the country’s strategy involves encouraging limited strikes on Israeli and U.S. targets by proxies such as Hezbollah, while avoiding a major escalation that would draw in Tehran.
As the situation unfolds, the U.S. military remains vigilant and committed to protecting its personnel in the Middle East. The increased force protection measures aim to mitigate the rising threats from Iran-backed groups and ensure the safety of American forces stationed in the region.
