As Israel eyes Iran attack, US scrambles to shield its troops
Senior general says Iran still retains credible missile deterrents despite significant blows by Israel’s military last year.
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WASHINGTON — As Washington awaits Tehran’s response to its latest nuclear proposal, a top commander warned on Tuesday that a unilateral Israeli attack on Iran could put many of the roughly 30,000 US troops in the Middle East in harm’s way.
The US military is ready to launch strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities if ordered to do so, the four-star general overseeing American forces in the Middle East, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, told House lawmakers this week.
Kurilla noted that he had provided the White House with “a wide range” of military options to target Iran’s enrichment capabilities should diplomacy fail to halt Tehran's nuclear program.
