With possible Iranian attack looming, US Central Command chief visits Middle East

ISTANBUL

The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, according to US-based news outlet Axios.

The visit by Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla coincides with US and Israeli preparations for potential Iranian retaliation following the recent killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, as stated by two US officials cited by Axios.

This development comes after threats of retaliation from Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah leaders.

The trip, reportedly scheduled before the latest tensions, is aimed at bolstering the international and regional coalition that previously shielded Israel from an Iranian attack on April 13.

Kurilla is set to visit various Gulf countries, Israel, and Jordan, with the US hoping for a significant contribution similar to the one during the incident in April.

According to the outlet, US and Israeli officials are expecting a possible Iranian attack on Israel as soon as Monday.

The White House announced on Friday its readiness to deploy extra resources to protect itself and its allies if needed.

As of 0930GMT, neither the US Defense Department nor CENTCOM have issued official statements regarding Axios’s claim.

Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran’s capital Tehran on Wednesday, with both Hamas and Iran accusing Israel of being behind the assassination, which took place shortly after Hezbollah's top military commander Fuad Shukr was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.