US General Michael Kurilla arrives in Middle East as Israel braces for likely Iran offensive

Kurilla's visit was scheduled before the recent escalation but is now seen as a key effort to rally international and regional support similar to that during an earlier Iranian attack on Israel in April.

Middle Eastern tensions have been flaring up amid a series of violent incidents, including airstrikes, assassinations, and military mobilisations, raising the possibility of a widespread conflict. General Michael Kurilla of US Central Command arrived in the region on August 3, ahead of a heightened alert in Israel for a potential Iranian retaliation following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Kurilla's visit was scheduled before the recent escalation but is now seen as a key effort to rally international and regional support similar to that during an earlier Iranian attack on Israel in April, as per a report by Axios. US and Israeli officials are bracing for a possible Iranian attack as early as August 5, with Iran and Hezbollah vowing retaliation for the killings of Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukr, and Hamas leader Haniyeh.

The US, in response, is fortifying its military presence in the Middle East, including deploying additional warships and fighter jets. Some concerns mobilising a coalition similar to the one from April may be challenging due to heightened anti-Israel sentiment linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Kurilla is expected to visit several Gulf countries, including Jordan, and Israel. Jordan played a crucial role in intercepting Iranian drones during the April attack and is expected to do so again if necessary.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has accused Israel, with US support, of orchestrating Haniyeh’s assassination and has promised severe retaliation. Israel has not confirmed or denied its involvement in the attack.

The heightened threat of Iranian retaliation has prompted the US to bolster its military presence, with the Pentagon announcing the deployment of additional fighter jets and an aircraft carrier. Both the US and the UK have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon due to the escalating situation.

In a parallel development, an Israeli delegation led by Mossad Chief David Barnea visited Cairo for talks with Egyptian intelligence officials. This visit follows US President Joe Biden’s call for a potential cease-fire, despite the ongoing complexities following Haniyeh’s assassination.

As efforts for a cease-fire in Gaza continue, Israeli airstrikes in the West Bank on August 3 resulted in the deaths of nine Palestinian militants. The Israeli military reported targeting a vehicle near Tulkarem, killing five militants, and later killed four more militants who allegedly fired on Israeli troops. Since the recent escalation began in October, over 590 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank.