The United States military leadership is holding consultations with its Middle East allies amid tensions over Iran. The New York Times (NYT) newspaper reports this, referring to its sources.
According to their information, last weekend the head of the US Armed Forces Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, visited Syria, Iraq and Israel in order to hold a series of meetings with American servicemen and their counterparts in those countries. During the meetings, according to the sources, the Iraqis were told that the United States would take retaliatory measures in the event of a possible escalation of tension and an attack on American bases and troops in Iraq by pro-Iranian groups.
Representatives of the Washington administration also held consultations with the officials of Saudi Arabia and Qatar regarding the situation around Iran.
According to the NYT, the Pentagon has sent about a dozen more F-15E fighter jets to the region, as well as Patriot and THAAD air defense systems, to bolster its military presence. Long-range bombers stationed in the United States, which can strike Iranian targets, have been in a state of high combat readiness for two weeks.
