Pentagon to Hold Iran Accountable for Attacks on US Troops in the Middle East

This Monday, the U.S. Defense Department significantly escalated its rhetoric against Iran. The Department has declared it will hold Tehran ultimately responsible for the latest string of rocket and drone attacks carried out against American troops stationed in the Middle East. Pentagon officials made this statement despite lacking evidence that directly connects the Iranian government to these attacks.

The spokesperson for the Department of Defense (DOD), Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, clarified their stance in a recent press briefing. He noted that although the Pentagon lacks explicit evidence pinpointing Iran as the orchestrator of these attacks, Tehran provides backing to the groups believed to be behind these assaults.

There has reportedly been a spate of such rocket and drone attacks over the past week, injuring several U.S. troops and causing the death of an American contractor due to cardiac complications during a false alarm at the Al Asad air base in Iraq.

This shift in the Pentagon's rhetoric against Iran is in stark contrast with its previous caution regarding Tehran, particularly after Hamas militants' unexpected October attacks on Israel, which subsequently escalated into regional conflict.

Previously, after USS Carney intercepted missiles and drones launched by Houthi rebels in the northern Red Sea, Ryder refused to draw a direct link between Iran and these incidents. However, this stance changed following threats made by Iranian proxy groups stating they would intensify attacks if Israel proceeded with a ground invasion of Gaza.

To protect its forces in the Middle East from these escalating tensions and threats, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered additional air-defenses and ships to the U.S. Central Command, along with the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery and Patriot missile defense system.