General Kenneth McKenzie, head of US Central Command, said that Iran and terrorist organizations remain the most challenging driver of instability in the Middle East.
He affirmed that the US presence in the region is focused on three priorities: fighting terrorism, confronting Iran’s destabilizing attitude in the region and deterring Russia’s and China’s efforts to expand in the strategic region.
During a virtual address to the Middle East Institute, he referred to Iran’s influence in Yemen, Syria and Iraq.
He added that the Israeli army has shown high capability in defying the militias of Iran and its expansionary attempts whether in Syria or along the Iraqi-Syrian border.
Further, the army backed the US operations in eradicating ISIS in these regions.
He stressed that the fight against ISIS in Iraq resulted in successful cooperation with the US-led international coalition.
Yet, McKenzie warned that the threat of ISIS remains even if it no longer represents a strategic threat following its defeat on the ground.
“American national interest begins and ends there,” he said. “We’re not a party to the Yemen civil war.”
However, McKenzie also struck a note of reassurance, saying that the US will “continue to support the Saudis as they defend themselves” against Iran, particularly from attacks on Saudi territory emanating from Yemen.
McKenzie said: “The Taliban continue to resort to extreme violence and targeted killings across the country and frequent attacks on the Afghan forces. While they have mostly avoided attacks on US and coalition units, the level of violence is just simply too high and so that is an action that we look at.”
“I know the administration is taking a close look at the way forward in accordance with the February 2020 peace agreement.”
McKenzie said that some key elements to that plan require the Taliban to take action, but “we all agree that the best path is going to be a negotiated political settlement among the Afghans.”
