U. S. troop pullouts raise fears of Iranian attacks

WASHINGTON — As the Pentagon pulls troops out of the Middle East in the coming weeks, under orders from President Trump, U. S. military leaders are working to find other ways to deter potential attacks by Iran and its proxies, and to counter arguments that America is abandoning the region.

A senior U. S. military official with knowledge of the region said this week that Iran may try to take advantage of America’s troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan, and the planned departure of the aircraft carrier Nimitz from the Persian Gulf.

The official said military leaders have determined that, based on the security situation in the region, the Nimitz must remain there now and “for some time to come.” In addition, the official said an additional fighter jet squadron may also be sent to the region, if needed.

The Nimitz left the Gulf region and was set to begin heading home. But the ship was ordered to return last week to provide additional security while the troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan continue. A U. S. defense official said at the time that the decision would ensure that American troops could deter any adversary from taking action against U. S. forces.

The potential Iranian threat has become an increasing concern in recent weeks following the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Iran has blamed the death on Israel, which has been suspected in previous killings of Iranian nuclear scientists. U. S. officials are also worried about a possible Iranian retaliatory strike on the first anniversary of the U. S. air strike that killed Iran’s top general, Qassem Soleimani, and senior Iraqi militia leaders near Baghdad’s airport in early January.

The military official said the U. S. is aware of Iranian attack planning and threats, and that some are more mature, while others are aspirational. A key worry, he said, is that Iranianbacked militias in Iraq may be willing to act even without the blessings or direction of Tehran.

The Pentagon announced last month that the U. S. will reduce troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan by midJanuary, asserting that the decision fulfills Trump’s pledge to bring forces home from America’s long wars. Under the accelerated pullout, the U. S. will cut the number of troops in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500, and in Iraq from about 3,000 to 2,500.