Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the previous commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), stated on Sunday that he thinks U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria are “actually susceptible” to retaliatory assaults by Iran.
In an interview on CBS Information’s “Face the Nation,” McKenzie stated he’s not shocked that Iran has not but retaliated following U.S. strikes on its nuclear websites, noting, “I feel Iranian determination making is just a little crippled proper now due to the lack of senior leaders” by the hands of the Israelis.
However he stated he is assured the U.S. army has taken steps to arrange for any future assaults.
“To your query about the place they could strike, I feel we’re actually susceptible in Iraq. I feel we’re actually susceptible in Syria,” including, “And I am sure that Central Command has finished all of the issues we have to do to harden ourselves towards these potential assaults.
“The identical for our different bases throughout the area,” McKenzie stated. “I do not know that it could be localized to the area although.”
McKenzie speculated about the potential for a strike on U.S. soil however famous efforts to attain such a objective up to now haven’t been very profitable.
“Iran has lengthy harbored the need to assault us in the USA. They usually haven’t been efficient after they’ve finished that. We have caught them in a few plots which are very public, that you simply’re effectively conscious of,” McKenzie stated.
“So I feel all these issues are on the desk, however it could take the Iranians a short time to work by way of this course of, as a result of no person’s enthusiastic about going to a gathering in Iran proper now,” he stated.
The interview comes as U.S. leaders are warning Iran from taking retaliatory actions towards the U.S. and of far-reaching penalties if Iran doesn’t take steps to make peace.