Blinken, who was on an unannounced trip to Baghdad in Iraq, warned Iran, that the United States will continue to defend our forces and allies from any future Iranian attacks or Iranian-backed proxy assaults. Blinken’s warning, which seems to be the favorite phrase or word of President Biden and his administration, was a firm “Don’t.”
“It was important to send a clear message to those who may have tried to use the conflict in Gaza as an excuse to threaten our personnel in this region or elsewhere: Don’t Do It,” Mr. Blinken stated in a short address at the Baghdad Airport, before departing for meetings with Turkish officials in Ankara.
The tensions are high in the area as the United States, along with its allies, have sent military forces there. China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy also sent ships to the area. A recent attack by Iranian-backed Houthi Rebels in Yemen foiled by a US Navy destroyer that shot down several drones and three land-attack-guided cruise missiles. US Officials speculated this was an attack against Israel or Saudi Arabia. The US Air Force began airstrikes in Syria against Iranian proxy forces shortly after the cruise missiles, drones, and other weapons were destroyed. Airstrikes in Syria were launched in response to drone attacks by Iranian proxy forces on US troops in Iraq and Syria.
Blinken warned the Iraqi government during his trip to Iraq that any attacks by Iraqi militias against American forces could result in “revenge.”
In a brief statement to reporters, before he left Baghdad, Mr. Blinken told them that the attacks and threats from militias aligned with Iran were “totally unacceptable”.
We will protect our personnel, whether they are military or civil.
The entire Middle East is under pressure as the Israeli war on Hamas in Gaza has now entered its fifth week and there’s no end in sight. The State Department updated its advisory on Friday, October 27, urging all American civilians in Lebanon to leave immediately. State Department officials have stated that the current situation in Lebanon is unpredictable, with Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists operating openly in the country and targeting Israeli forces on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel.
The best time to leave is before there’s a crisis, if possible. The administration stated that U.S. military-assisted evacuations of foreign civilians are rare. There is no guarantee that the U.S. Government will evacuate U.S. citizens or their families in a crisis.
In times of emergency, the U.S. Government is not able to provide certain forms of transportation or evacuate pets with U.S. citizens.
If hostilities break out, it is possible the 26th MEUSOC operating in the Mediterranean Sea could be used to conduct an evacuation operation to remove American civilians or State Department staff from a region of Lebanon. When a Marine Expeditionary Unit is deployed, a NEO is regarded as one of their special operations.
The 26th MEUSOC consists of approximately 2,400 Marines and sailors. It is composed of aviation units that fly the F-35B and MV-22 Ospreys as well as other helicopters. An infantry battalion with artillery, track, and support units is also included.
The mission of American forces deployed or waiting to be deployed in the region is a difficult one. Self-defense can be a pretty straightforward and easy thing to do. When we have to pursue targets outside our bubble of defense, things can get very out of control. The United States is not alone in having military forces stationed in the Middle East. As well as America’s adversaries and allies, other nations are also deploying or have already deployed forces to the region. One tiny spark could ignite the Middle East and cause World War III. Everyone wants to stop this from happening, but patience is wearing thin. This war will hopefully be won by cooler heads.
