Latest news with #Michael'Erik'Kurilla
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Dangerous place': US pulls some Middle East staff as Iran tensions rise
Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh raised alarm on Wednesday when he warned that, in the event of a conflict following failed nuclear talks, it would retaliate by hitting US bases in the region. 'America will have to leave the region because all its military bases are within our reach and we will, without any consideration, target them in the host countries,' he told reporters. Iran's UN mission on Wednesday posted on X: 'Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and US militarism only fuels instability.' That statement appeared to be a response to a comment by US Army General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, that he had provided the president with 'a wide range of options' to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Kurilla postponed testimony he was due to deliver before U.S. lawmakers on Thursday because of tensions in the Middle East, two other U.S. officials said. Analysts are debating possible motived for personnel moves, The New York Times reported. Some think the US and Britain might be trying to intimidate Iran, or were responding with alarm to Tehran's statements. Some also wondered whether US and British officials were reacting to a heightened chance that Israel would attack Iran. Trump has said that he does not want Israel to take military action that could disrupt his efforts to broker a nuclear deal with Tehran. Britain's Foreign Office said it was monitoring the situation and would keep its embassy in Iraq under constant review following the US moves. Earlier on Wednesday, Britain's maritime agency warned that increased tensions in the Middle East may lead to an escalation in military activity that could impact shipping in critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. The US has a military presence across the major oil-producing region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorised the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, a US official said. Another American official said that was mostly relevant to family members located in Bahrain – where the bulk of them are based. The US embassy in Kuwait said in a statement on Wednesday that it 'has not changed its staffing posture and remains fully operational'. Another US official said that there was no change in operations at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military base in the Middle East and that no evacuation order had been issued for employees or families linked to the US embassy in Qatar, which was operating as usual. Iraq's state news agency cited a government source as saying Baghdad had not recorded any security indication that called for an evacuation. Iraq – a rare regional partner of both the US and its arch regional foe, Iran – hosts 2500 American troops, although Tehran-backed armed factions are linked to its security forces. Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking US troops, though attacks have subsided since last year. Israel and Iran also twice exchanged fire last year – the first ever such direct attacks between the region's most entrenched enemies – with missiles and war drones hurtling across Iraqi airspace. Israel has also struck Iran-linked targets across the region, including Iraqi armed groups operating both inside Iraq and in neighbouring Syria.
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Dangerous place': US pulls some Middle East staff as Iran tensions rise
Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh raised alarm on Wednesday when he warned that, in the event of a conflict following failed nuclear talks, it would retaliate by hitting US bases in the region. 'America will have to leave the region because all its military bases are within our reach and we will, without any consideration, target them in the host countries,' he told reporters. Iran's UN mission on Wednesday posted on X: 'Threats of 'overwhelming force' won't change facts: Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon and US militarism only fuels instability.' That statement appeared to be a response to a comment by US Army General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, that he had provided the president with 'a wide range of options' to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Kurilla postponed testimony he was due to deliver before U.S. lawmakers on Thursday because of tensions in the Middle East, two other U.S. officials said. Analysts are debating possible motived for personnel moves, The New York Times reported. Some think the US and Britain might be trying to intimidate Iran, or were responding with alarm to Tehran's statements. Some also wondered whether US and British officials were reacting to a heightened chance that Israel would attack Iran. Trump has said that he does not want Israel to take military action that could disrupt his efforts to broker a nuclear deal with Tehran. Britain's Foreign Office said it was monitoring the situation and would keep its embassy in Iraq under constant review following the US moves. Earlier on Wednesday, Britain's maritime agency warned that increased tensions in the Middle East may lead to an escalation in military activity that could impact shipping in critical waterways. It advised vessels to use caution while travelling through the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz, which all border Iran. The US has a military presence across the major oil-producing region, with bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorised the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East, a US official said. Another American official said that was mostly relevant to family members located in Bahrain – where the bulk of them are based. The US embassy in Kuwait said in a statement on Wednesday that it 'has not changed its staffing posture and remains fully operational'. Another US official said that there was no change in operations at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military base in the Middle East and that no evacuation order had been issued for employees or families linked to the US embassy in Qatar, which was operating as usual. Iraq's state news agency cited a government source as saying Baghdad had not recorded any security indication that called for an evacuation. Iraq – a rare regional partner of both the US and its arch regional foe, Iran – hosts 2500 American troops, although Tehran-backed armed factions are linked to its security forces. Tensions inside Iraq have heightened since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, with Iran-aligned armed groups in the country repeatedly attacking US troops, though attacks have subsided since last year. Israel and Iran also twice exchanged fire last year – the first ever such direct attacks between the region's most entrenched enemies – with missiles and war drones hurtling across Iraqi airspace. Israel has also struck Iran-linked targets across the region, including Iraqi armed groups operating both inside Iraq and in neighbouring Syria.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US' top general terms Pakistan a 'phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism'
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A top US general has described Pakistan as a "phenomenal partner in the counter-terrorism world," and stressed that the United States "have to have" a relationship with both Pakistan and India."... right now what we saw is the Taliban is going after ISIS-K (Khorasan)...they hate each other, pushed a lot of them into the tribal areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistan. They have gone after ISIS Khorasan, killing dozens of them. Through a relationship we have with them providing intelligence, they (Pakistan) have captured at least 5 ISIS Khorasan high-value individuals," General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, who heads the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), said during a congressional also praised Islamabad for extraditing Mohammad Sharifullah aka Jafar, an ISIS-K member, to America. In March, the U.S. Justice Department indicted Sharifullah for his involvement in the August 2021 suicide attack at Kabul's international airport in bombing victims included 13 American military personnel."They extradited back Jafar who was one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing. And the first person they called, (Pakistan's) chief of the army staff was me and, said 'I've caught him, I'm willing to extradite him back to the United States. Please tell the secretary of defense and the president'," Kurilla stated."So we are seeing Pakistan with, with limited intelligence that we're providing them, go after them using their means to do that...I would honestly tell you that since 2024 the beginning, Pakistan hold over 1000 terrorist attacks in the Western area killing about 700 security and civilians and 2500 they're in an active counterterrorism fight right now. And they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world," he he said that it can't be that America has ties with India but not with Pakistan, and vice versa."We have to have a relationship with Pakistan and India. I do not believe there's a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives it has," the American general noted.(With TOI inputs)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism': Top US general lauds Islamabad; stresses on need for ties with both India and Pakistan
A top US general has described Pakistan as a "phenomenal partner in the counter-terrorism world," adding that the United States "have to have" a relationship with both Pakistan and India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "... right now what we saw is the Taliban is going after ISIS-K (Khorasan)...they hate each other, pushed a lot of them into the tribal areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistan. They have gone after ISIS Khorasan killing dozens of them. Through a relationship we have with them providing intelligence, they (Pakistan) have captured at least 5 ISIS Khorasan high value individuals," General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, who heads the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), said during a congressional hearing. He also praised Islamabad for extraditing Mohammad Sharifullah aka Jafar, an ISIS-K member, to America. In March, the US Justice Department Sharifullah for his role in the August 2021 suicide bombing at Afghanistan's Kabul international airport. The bombing victims included 13 American military personnel. "They extradited back Jafar who was one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing. And the first person they called, (Pakistan's) chief of the army staff was me and, said 'I've caught him, I'm willing to extradite him back to the United States. Please tell the secretary of defense and the president'," Kurilla stated. "So we are seeing Pakistan with, with limited intelligence that we're providing them, go after them using their means to do that...I would honestly tell you that since 2024 the beginning, Pakistan hold over 1000 terrorist attacks in the Western area killing about 700 security and civilians and 2500 they're in an active counterterrorism fight right now. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world," he added. Further, he stressed that it can't be that America has ties with India but not with Pakistan, and vice-versa. "We have to have a relationship with Pakistan and India. I do not believe there's a binary switch that we can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives it has," the American general noted.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
US military evaluating options to prevent nuclear-armed Iran, general says
The top US general overseeing American forces in the Middle East said on Tuesday there were a range of options when asked if the military was prepared to respond with overwhelming force to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. 'I have provided the secretary of defense and the president with a wide range of options,' US Army General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), told a congressional hearing. Kurilla was responding to Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama, the chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, who asked if CENTCOM was prepared to respond with overwhelming force if Iran does not permanently give up its nuclear ambitions. 'I take that as a yes?' the Alabama Republican asked, after Kurilla responded. 'Yes,' Kurilla said. Iran said on Monday it would soon hand a counterproposal for a nuclear deal to the United States in response to a US offer that Tehran deems unacceptable, while US President Donald Trump said talks would continue
