US-Iran Tensions on the Decline in Iraq, for Now
Both sides taking the threat of conflict seriously
Jason Ditz
After weeks of talk of US-Iran tensions and a possible war erupting any moment, things seem to be calming down, with no rocket fire or airstrikes in some time, leading to hope that the worst of this latest flareup may be over.
Which isn’t to say that either side is backing away. US troops are hunkered down, and officials are bragging of all the US anti-missile systems deployed in Iraq in recent weeks, while Iraqi Shi’ite militias redeploy, acutely aware that the US was considering attacking them.
After the most recent round of rockets, which the US blamed on Iran, there were reports that the US was openly drawing up plans to wipe out Iraqi militias they consider aligned with Iran. Some Pentagon commanders were opposing this, warning it could lead to war.
General US-Iran tensions aren’t improving so far, and there is little sign of any proper diplomatic overtures. So long as neither side is directly attacking the other, however, things are going to generally trend toward calm, which can only be a positive sign.
Which isn’t to say that either side is backing away. US troops are hunkered down, and officials are bragging of all the US anti-missile systems deployed in Iraq in recent weeks, while Iraqi Shi’ite militias redeploy, acutely aware that the US was considering attacking them.
After the most recent round of rockets, which the US blamed on Iran, there were reports that the US was openly drawing up plans to wipe out Iraqi militias they consider aligned with Iran. Some Pentagon commanders were opposing this, warning it could lead to war.
General US-Iran tensions aren’t improving so far, and there is little sign of any proper diplomatic overtures. So long as neither side is directly attacking the other, however, things are going to generally trend toward calm, which can only be a positive sign.
posted by Satish Sharma at
11:39
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