WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed a report that his administration is planning to send 120,000 troops to the Middle East to deal…
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed a report that his administration is planning to send 120,000 troops to the Middle East to deal with Iran, but then threatened tosend far more troops if needed.
«Would I do that? Absolutely,» Trump told reporters gathered Tuesday when asked about a New York Times report that his administration was considering a military build-up. «But we have not planned for that.»
Hours later, a top official in the U. S.-led effort to defeat ISIS disputed assessments that the threat posed by Iran had increased.
British Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, the No. 2 officer in Operation Inherent Resolve, told Pentagon reporters the threat was, in fact, not higher. His comments were at odds with U. S. officials, who justified the deployment of B-52 bombers and warships on the alleged higher threat.
Navy Capt. Bill Ubran, a spokesman for U. S. Central Command, said in a statement that Ghrika was wrong. Ubran said the remarks «run counter to the identified credible threats available to intelligence from U. S. and allies regarding Iranian-backed forces in the region.» The statement was remarkable for refuting a top commander in the region who has the latest intelligence at his disposal.
