Gen. Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), arrived in the Middle East as Israel braces for a retaliatory attack from Iran.
There are some reports that the arrival of the general of US forces in the Middle East was planned before Iran’s threats.
Given the current climate, the focus of General Kurilla’s visit is on forming a multilateral defensive alliance like the one that neutralized most of the 300 missiles and drones Iran shot into Israel in mid-April.
General Kurilla is planning to visit Israel and Jordan, which is particularly crucial, given Jordan’s major role in repelling Iran’s attack this spring.
The US is increasing its defense capabilities in the region given a possible coordinated attack by Iran and its terror proxies, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies,” the Pentagon statement from deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said.
Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.
