US general says Israeli strike on Iran would risk troops in region
Outgoing CENTCOM Gen. Michael 'Erik' Kurilla said he has provided a broad range of military options to the Trump White House should diplomacy fail to rein in Tehran's nuclear enrichment.
WASHINGTON — The top commander of US military forces in the Middle East told congressional lawmakers on Tuesday that unilateral Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear sites would increase risks to American troops in the region.
"I think that it would increase risk of our forces," Gen. Michael 'Erik' Kurilla told members of the House's Armed Services Committee.
"Every day, we're making assessments of our posture and our risk of force," Kurilla added. "We're fielding systems and new equipment, and they can adjust every single day."
Why it matters: The Trump administration has threatened to launch airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if ongoing diplomatic outreach fails to rein in Tehran's nuclear program, which continues to amass 60% enriched uranium — a level with no civilian use.
