WASHINGTON – The top U.S. general for the Middle East warned Congress about the escalating violence in the region, primarily fueled by Iran, posing the most significant threat to the U.S. homeland. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, in charge of U.S. Central Command, emphasized the growing risk of violent extremist attacks on American and Western interests in Afghanistan.
Kurilla highlighted the Islamic State group’s Khorasan affiliates in Afghanistan and Syria as having the capability and intent to launch attacks, potentially within six months with little warning. He expressed concerns about potential strikes against the U.S. and its European allies, stating that countering such threats would require substantial resources.
During his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kurilla painted a grim picture of the violence in the Middle East following the attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in numerous casualties and hostages. He noted that the conflict in Gaza and attacks by Iran-backed militant groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria have disrupted maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in addition to targeting U.S. bases and troops in the region.
In response to the escalating violence, the U.S. has conducted retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria while maintaining a campaign against Iran-backed groups in Yemen. Kurilla acknowledged that the U.S. had diverted intelligence and reconnaissance assets from Afghanistan to Iraq, Syria, and Yemen to enhance protection for troops and ships facing attacks.
Despite ongoing challenges, Kurilla mentioned that Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria had been deterred from launching recent attacks. However, Iran’s continued support for these groups raised concerns about future instability in the region. The general emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to deter Iran’s activities beyond just military actions.
Senators pressed Kurilla on why the U.S. had not taken stronger actions against Iran, particularly regarding Iranian ships delivering weapons and supplies to militias. The general explained that addressing Iran’s activities required a multifaceted strategy and offered to provide more information in a classified session. He also discussed the use of directed energy weapons to counter drone threats and advocated for increasing their deployment to reduce the reliance on costly missile systems.
In conclusion, Kurilla’s testimony underscored the complex security challenges posed by escalating violence in the Middle East and the threat of extremist attacks on U.S. interests. The general emphasized the need for a coordinated response to address these threats effectively and safeguard American and allied assets in the region.