Middle East
U.S. deploys thousands of troops to Middle East to counter Iran aggression
Earlier this week, the United States Navy announced 3,000 sailors and Marines arrived in the Middle East after the Pentagon requested more troops. The plea came after the Islamic Republic of Iran attempted to seize commercial ships in U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) areas.
According to reports from CENTCOM, the U.S. government plans on sending troops from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the Middle East.
Foreign Desk News reports that “In the past few months, the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued to harass American, Israeli, and Saudi commercial ships, stoking chaos and tensions in one of the world’s most critical trade routes.”
“Sending the Marines is a good move on Biden’s part, but the question is whether he’ll learn the lessons,” said Michael Rubin, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
“First, rogue regimes like Iran and American partners in the region respect strength, not State Department statements,” he added.
In a statement, CENTCOM announced that the amphibious assault ship “USS Bataan (LHD 50) and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) entered the Red Sea after transiting from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Bataan ARG/26th MEU units bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, as well as more U.S. Marines and sailors, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to U.S. 5th Fleet.”
The statement went on to say that the amphibious assault ship can “carry more than two dozen rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, including MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and AV-8B Harrier attack jets in addition to several amphibious landing craft.”
CENTCOM also noted that a dock landing ship “also supports operations for various rotary-wing aircraft, tactical vehicles, and amphibious landing craft.
Middle East
U.S. House Votes to Permanently Freeze $6 Billion Iranian Funds Amid Hostage Exchange Controversy
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation to permanently freeze $6 billion in Iranian funds that were initially slated for release by the Biden administration as part of a hostage exchange with Tehran earlier this year. The measure passed in a 307-119 vote, with the majority of Republicans supporting it, according to The Hill. Notably, Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie was the sole Republican dissenting voice, aligning with 118 Democrats.
The frozen funds, originally held in South Korea, were part of a deal where Seoul committed to paying Iran for oil before the U.S. imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic in 2019. Subsequently, these funds were transferred to Qatar as part of the exchange. However, in the aftermath of an Oct. 7 Hamas raid on Israel, where more than 200 hostages were seized and around 1,200 civilians were killed, both Qatar and the U.S. agreed to refreeze the funds.
The decision to permanently freeze the funds reflects the growing controversy surrounding the hostage exchange and the broader implications of releasing substantial financial resources to Iran. Tehran’s support for Hamas and its proxies’ heightened hostilities in the Middle East have contributed to the contentious nature of this issue.
As the legislation progresses, it further underscores the complex dynamics in the region and the United States’ response to Iran’s involvement in activities that destabilize the Middle East. The vote outcome signals a bipartisan stance on this matter, with implications for U.S.-Iran relations and the ongoing challenges of navigating geopolitical complexities.
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