US top Middle East Gen. arrives to region as Iran, Axis response nears
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Axios cites US and Israeli officials as saying that they expect that the response could take place as early as Monday.
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USS Gerald R. Ford CVN-78 after departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - May 2, 2023. (US Navy)
As the United States and "Israel" are preparing for the military retaliation of Iran and the Resistance Axis, the region's top US general arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, Axios reported on Sunday citing two US officials.
The Israeli regime assassinated Hamas' Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday while on an official visit to Tehran, and a Hezbollah top military leader, Sayyed Fouad Shokor, on Thursday in an airstrike in Beirut, which also resulted in the martyrdom of Iranian military advisor Milad Bidi and five civilians - three women and two children.
Additionally, "Israel" carried out an aggression end of last month on Yemen's Ras Kathib power station located in the Hodeidah port, leading to the martyrdom of six civil servants.
Read more: US, 'Israel' prepare for Iran retaliation expected in few days: Axios
General Michael Kurilla, the chief of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) which oversees American forces in the region, had planned a visit before the recent Israeli escalations. However, according to the report, he is now expected to try and create a coalition similar to the one Washington established during Iran's response back in April, when "Israel" attacked its consulate in Syria, killing several senior IRGC officials. officials.
As per three US and Israeli officials, the response against "Israel" is expected to take place "as early as Monday," Axios added.
A US official added that Kurilla is expected to visit "Israel," Jordan, and several Gulf countries. His Amman visit will be a key part of his trip, as Jordan played a key role in intercepting Iranian drones headed for "Israel" on April 13, Axios said.
When asked by reporters on Saturday whether he thinks Iran will stand down, President Joe Biden answered, "I hope so. I don't know."
In light of preparations, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered on Saturday the deployment of additional naval warships, fighter jets, and anti-ballistic missile defense systems in the Middle East.
"These posture adjustments add to the broad range of capabilities the U.S. military maintains in the region, including the USS WASP Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) operating in the Eastern Mediterranean," with over 4,500 Sailors and Marines onboard across the force, Pentagon said in a statement.
'Very hard to replicate'
Axios reported on Thursday that Iran's response is expected to be larger but similar in nature to its earlier April retaliation to the Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic's consulate in Syria, and could also involve Hezbollah.
The US, UK, and France along with several regional countries joined efforts, both military and intelligence, to repel Iran's April operation consisting of some 300 drones and missiles launched at "Israel". According to estimations then, the few-hours interception operations cost over $1 billion.
Read more: US officials doubt 'Israel', allies, ready to face Iranian retaliation
Following the Iranian response, a senior US official told Axios then that it will be "very hard to replicate the huge success" of intercepting the Iranian drones and missiles "and the Israelis know it."
According to Axios, President Joe Biden's administration today fears that it may be more difficult to form the same coalition to protect "Israel," since the Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Haniyeh is part of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which resulted in the growing of opposition to "Israel" in the region.
