Media: The War in the Middle East Continues, Trump to "Gradually Reduce" Military Actions Against Iran, but Excludes a Ceasefire

U.S. and Israeli joint military actions against Iran have lasted three weeks, and there are no signs of the war ending in the short term, although U.S. President Trump said he is considering "gradually reducing" military actions against Iran, but Saturday's confrontational attacks continue.

The United States is considering "gradually reducing" military operations against Iran

Recently, the U.S. president made many contradictory statements about how long the military conflict in the Middle East might last, such as on Friday when he first hinted at having plans to end the conflict.

U.S. President Trump claimed that the military strike targets against Iran are being achieved as planned, but the U.S. administration has issued contradictory messages, on one hand stating that the U.S. is considering "gradually reducing" military operations against Iran but excluding a ceasefire, and on the other hand requesting more support for the war from Congress, while also demanding countries dependent on the Strait of Hormuz to take responsibility for their own security.

U.S. President Trump announced on his "Truth Social Network" that the U.S. is considering "gradually reducing" military actions against Iran. Trump wrote on his "Truth Social Network" late Friday, "In the face of the [Iranian] regime, we are planning to gradually reduce military operations in the Middle East, and we are about to achieve our goals."

This message released on Friday seems to contradict his previous statements, with multiple U.S. media reports indicating that the U.S. is about to deploy additional military forces to the region. White House press secretary Levitt emphasized that the president and the Pentagon "expect the task to take four to six weeks," meaning that the U.S. government announced on Friday the deployment of troops and ships to the Gulf region and is preparing to apply to Congress for an additional $20 billion in funding to continue the war.

At the same time, the U.S. president shifted the responsibility of maintaining the security of the Strait of Hormuz to the countries that rely on the freedom of navigation through the strait. Trump wrote on social media, "If necessary, the Strait of Hormuz needs to be monitored and controlled by other countries using the strait, not by the United States!"

U.S. President Trump also listed the objectives of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran three weeks ago: "To completely destroy Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, launchers, and all related facilities. Destroy Iran's defense industry base. Eliminate Iran's navy and air force, including its air defense weapons. Never allow Iran to have any near-nuclear capability, and always be able to respond swiftly and strongly if such a situation arises." Trump emphasized that the U.S. has protected its allies in the Middle East, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Trump: "I think we won!"

U.S. President Trump previously told reporters that he "doesn't want a ceasefire, you know, when you're completely destroying your enemy, you don't agree to a ceasefire." "I think we won." Trump believes Iran is only blocking the strait.

Analysts point out that this is the strongest signal so far from the U.S. president that the U.S. is considering "gradually reducing" military actions against Iran, but not seeking a ceasefire.

One-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas pass through here, and Iran's threat to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has almost paralyzed the transportation of oil and gas, causing chaos in the global oil and gas market and rising fuel prices.

U.S. President Trump had previously urged European and Asian countries that rely on the Strait of Hormuz to take responsibility for maintaining the safety of the strait, and Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with NATO's refusal to participate in escort missions.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has recently increased its strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf to weaken Tehran's offensive capabilities. General Dan Kean, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, previously announced that U.S. Air Force A-10 "Warthog" attack aircraft have been ordered to strike fast attack boats used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to attack maritime traffic.

Threats to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran also include mines, land-based missiles, and naval drones.

Earlier this week, the U.S. dropped several bunker buster bombs into underground missile silos near the Strait of Hormuz. An amphibious assault ship carrying 2,500 U.S. Marines was deployed from the Indo-Pacific region to the Persian Gulf, and they may be sent there for an amphibious landing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz or seize Harg Island, as most of Iran's oil passes through there.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1860334711030784/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.