Iran Isn’t Impressed by U.S. Airstrikes
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The war in the Middle East could still morph into a larger regional conflict, and the Biden Administration is calibrating its actions to manage that risk. But the confounding reality is that President Biden’s weak responses to attacks on U.S. forces aren’t deterring Iran and its proxies, which increases the risk of escalation.
The Pentagon said this week that Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. forces in the Middle East with drones or rockets 46 times since Oct. 17—some 24 times in Iraq and 22 more in Syria. Some 56 U.S. service members have been injured. The Pentagon is quick to stress that all have returned to duty, including those sent to Landstuhl in Germany for further evaluation. That’s good to hear, but troops have suffered traumatic brain injuries, in addition to more minor injuries such as shrapnel or perforated ear drums. These troops didn’t sign up to be repeated targets of enemy fire without the ability to respond in kind.
The surgical U.S. military strikes in response aren’t making Tehran think twice about hitting American troops. The U.S. on Wednesday dispatched two F-15s to destroy an Iranian weapons locker in eastern Syria. But why would Tehran blink now if it didn’t after similar strikes on weapons depots on Oct. 26? The Houthi rebels in Yemen this week took down a U.S. drone over the Red Sea. They don’t appear to be worried about the U.S. vow to respond “swiftly and decisively,” to quote Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month, if U.S. forces or facilities were attacked again.
The central fact is that Iranian proxies are now routinely trying to kill American service members abroad, while the U.S. is responding by shooting at ammunition. The militias will continue to do this, and eventually they may succeed. The Biden Administration has been touting its addition of air defenses to the region and an Ohio-class submarine is lurking in the neighborhood. But what’s the point of military assets if America’s enemies don’t fear that the U.S. will use them?
Iran’s mullahs are testing Mr. Biden and his commitment to restoring an eroded American deterrence. This is dangerous, and it puts American lives at risk.
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Obviously, the response should have been much stronger.
I get a kick out of those who defend Biden walking on eggshells for Iran.
The Pentagon on Sunday announced a new round of airstrikes on Iranian facilities in Syria that officials said were linked to dozens of recent attacks targeting U.S. troops there and in neighboring Iraq, this time causing an undetermined number of fatalities among proxy fighters backed by Tehran. 11 hours ago
Obviously, it was since your article is 3 days old and the US strikes took place yesterday.
Could it be that the WSJ had a little impact?
LOL, not at all.
Keep swinging, Vic.
You mean your POS leader finally realized how pathetic it was?
Could it be you Monday morning generals don't have all the information the real generals have?
No, not what I meant at all, I'm pretty clear when I have something to say, you on the other hand can't accept the fact that much of the time you are behind on the news or interpret it to fit your needs or many times are so inaccurate in your comments that they are hilarious funny in a sad sort of way.
Attacks against US forces will continue because Iran doesn't think Biden is serious.
Tell me what the Generals knew when those 13 service members were needlessly killed in Afghanistan.
If that is accurate then they, Iran will continue to attack Israel because they don't think that Israel is serious. Israel's massive bombing and ground assault aren't serious enough for Iran I guess.
They are using proxies. Everyone knows Israel will fight for its life.
Your leader is weak on Iran. The attacks against US bases will continue.
Iran is using proxies against the US.
Who is your leader, Viktor Mihály Orbán?
Still using the unfortunate deaths of heros for your twisted political spin? I seem to recall those Generals telling Pompeo making deals with the Taliban was a bad idea. And you don't want to support Ukraine where we don't have boots on the ground but want to jump right back into that sandbox? How much will it cost the US this time in blood and money?
“Sad.”
Doesn’t begin to describe the depths some will go. Pathetic, pathologic, and ultimately flawed. Once again forced to look back in the absence of any attempt to look forward.
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That is an ignorant post.
Your comment makes little sense. Iran isn't Arabian, but is authoritarian. Jordan is Arab/muslim but isn't authoritarian.
Your comment makes little sense. I know the Iranians are not Arab but they are Muslim.
Todays Russia is very authoritarian.
As is Iran.
A majority of Repubs have voted for Russian sanctions and Ukranian aid.
And the imbecile politicians keep these troops hands tied while they sit safely thousands of miles away.
Why does the United States have troops deployed in the region anyway? Why is Syria so damned important to the United States?
Biden is still fighting the Cold War. But the Soviets are not going to extend their influence into the Middle East. The Soviets are not going to threaten Europe by parking nukes in Syria. Advances in technology made the Cold War obsolete. And the collapse of the Soviet Union made the Cold War pointless.
If Biden wants to keep troops in Syria then he needs to explain why. Why are we surprised that deploying troops to a shithole means they'll be shit on? Retaliatory airstrikes don't explain why those troops need to be there, in the first place.
Perhaps this warning should make Hamas Islamic allies take heed.
Iran is not really impressed with American airpower or concerned about what happens to their proxies in Syria or elsewhere. They are just expendable numbers to Iran and there's always more to replace them. The US is going to have to get much more aggressive.
Not going to happen under this POTUS. And the world knows it.
Iran is a fundamentalist Muslim regime. They "hate" America because of what they perceive as American imperialism in the middle east over decades , and because America backed the dictatorial Shah back in the 50's 6o's and 70's. They dont hate us because of our "freedoms" as right wingers used to say.
I worked with a fellow from Iran for a few years. He and his wife were Muslim but not religious and were excited to be in America making a new life. Iran has a highly educated population that yearns for modernity and "westernization". We should be helping those people instead of figuring out ways to bomb them.
Yes, we did little during the Iranian: