Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Latest Iranian Plotting Worrisome, Not Surprising, US Officials Say

Jeff Seldin

   WASHINGTON - Recent intelligence suggesting Iranian-backed forces in
   Iraq are actively plotting to hit U.S. troops may have stirred a new
   war of words between Washington and Tehran on social media, but it has
   done little to shock U.S. defense officials.

   U.S. President Donald Trump first shared word of the latest
   intelligence in a tweet Wednesday, warning of a "sneak attack."

     Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a
     sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens,
     Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [1]April 1, 2020

   Later, he told White House reporters the intelligence was "very good,"
   and that Iranian leaders would be wise to heed U.S. warnings.

   "We're just saying, 'Don't do it.'¯Don't do it,'" Trump said. "It would
   be a very bad thing for them if they did it."

   While not commenting on the specific intelligence that led to Trump's
   tweet, current and former U.S. officials say the idea Tehran would use
   proxy forces to lash out at this time would be consistent with the
   Iranian regime's playbook.

   Iran's official military has been "pretty effectively deterred," a U.S.
   defense official told VOA on condition of anonymity, pointing to a lull
   in missile attacks launched from Iranian soil and to Tehran's apparent
   decision to stop harassing ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

   The official, however, cautioned that U.S. strikes against
   Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, like Kataib Hezbollah, have done
   little to lessen a "threat stream"'¯from Iranian-backed militias'¯that
   has been rising for weeks.

   "The threat'¯remains very high," U.S. Central Command's Gen. Kenneth
   McKenzie told reporters following a series of'¯U.S.'¯precision strikes
   last month against militia depots in Iraq housing advanced Iranian
   weapons.
   

References

   Visible links
   1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1245396884040097792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

   Hidden links:
   2. file://localhost/usa/top-us-commander-iran-threat-remains-high-after-us-hits-back-against-iran-proxy-iraq

.