Vulnerabilities of sprawling US presence in ME are 'glaringly obvious'
5 Min Read
Ben Wedeman writes that the US military presence in the Middle East when paired with Iran's combat capability could mean that the war on Gaza could evolve into a "regional cataclysm".
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US President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in "Tel Aviv" on October 18, 2023. (AP)
According to a CNN analysis by Ben Wedeman, recent attacks on the United States military presence in the Middle East indicate that Washington could be dragged into the war on Gaza.
According to CNN, the US warship, USS Carney, an Arleigh-Burke, intercepted four cruise missiles and 15 drones over nine hours as they were heading north along the Red Sea on Saturday.
Meanwhile, two attacks against US military presence in Iraq took place on Friday, US and Iraqi security sources informed on the matter told AFP.
Sources told Al Mayadeen that two US occupation military bases in Syria were targeted early Thursday.
Biden landed in "Tel Aviv" on Wednesday, at the head of an envoy of diplomats, declaring his support for "Israel" against the Palestinian Resistance.
During a meeting with Netanyahu, Biden played along to the Israeli narrative of the massacre in al-Ahli Baptist Hospital accusing the Palestinian Resistance of the massacre.
On Friday, Biden claimed both Hamas and Russia were out to "annihilate democracies", in a speech from the Oval Office where he dubbed the assistance to Ukraine and "Israel" as a vital US interest.
While the US continues to offer aid to "Israel', along with stationing aircraft carriers nearby for "support", Wedeman believes that this could mean a direct involvement in a war.
More importantly, Wedeman notes that whereas in past wars like the invasion of Iraq, the US now is being forced to respond to "events largely out of its control" and does not have the luxury of deciding the "time, place, and scale of attack."
He emphasizes that this exposes the US presence as extremely vulnerable, like in Syria and Iraq.
And in this dangerous terrain, according to the author, the vulnerabilities of the sprawling American military presence across the Middle East are glaringly obvious.
Iran; a real threat
Wedeman expresses that Iran, in particular, has managed to successfully develop "sophisticated weaponry" and gain valuable experience in Syria and Iraq.
After the US assassinated IRGC Commander Qassem Soleimani, Tehran fired numerous rockets at US bases in Iraq, warning that the deployment of Iranian troops across the region is far less expensive than the deployment of US troops overseas.
In addition, the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has warned on numerous occasions that new fronts will not be ruled out if "Israel" continues its aggression on Gaza.
Wedeman further notes that the entire Middle East is seething with anger against not only "Israel" but also its "most generous backer," the US.
After the tragic bombing at Gaza's al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, Jordan's King Abdullah, Washington's most cooperative Arab ally, canceled a planned conference with Biden that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas were also scheduled to attend.
The Israeli aggression led to the martyrdom of 44 medical personnel and the injury of 70 others and put four hospitals and 14 primary care centers out of service, according to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra
Wedeman also remarks when considering Hezbollah's daily targeting of Israeli army positions, and Hamas and Islamic Jihad's continuous targeting of "Israel," the decades-old "quarrel with the Palestinians" has the real capability to evolve into a "regional cataclysm" that the US will be right in between.
US warns 'Israel' to avoid escalation with Hezbollah
US and Israeli officials relay that US President Joe Biden and his top aides have been cornering "Israel" to refrain from executing a major strike against the Lebanese Resistance, Hezbollah, that could draw it into the war.
The warning comes amid concern that members of the Israeli war cabinet want to challenge Hezbollah after the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, since US officials see that "Israel" cannot handle a two-front war, which would potentially bring in both the United States and Iran.
This would potentially become inevitable if the US and "Israel" carry out a ground invasion in Gaza.
Biden replied: "Not true" when asked about a report that his aides have told Israeli occupation officials that if Hezbollah starts a war against "Israel", the US military will join the confrontation.
The effort by top US officials to stop an Israeli attack on Hezbollah is reported in detail here for the first time, highlighting the US' fear over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision-making as both entities strive to present a united front.
trump: "Hezbollah's very smart. They're all very smart."
— Rashid Raheem (@rashidraheem531) October 12, 2023
President Biden: "Our nation’s support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never."#bbtvi#Israel #อิสราเอล #غزة_تحت_القصف #Debate2023… pic.twitter.com/I1fdH3r7Vj
