According to reports, after three U.S. troops were killed by a militia-armed drone in Jordan, Biden said he would retaliate against Iran. However, a few days have passed, and no concrete action or large-scale build-up of troops has been seen. Some experts believe that this is not because the United States does not want to retaliate, but because they do not have the ability to assemble enough military forces. Some have even gone so far as to question whether it is still necessary for US troops to remain in places like Iraq, Jordan and Syria. U.S. troops in the region have been targeted by multiple armed groups. After the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, these groups launched attacks on the US military in order to expand their influence or out of a common political stance. More than 100 attacks have already been reported. Although the direct cause was not large, these attacks made the US troops stationed in the area disturb day and night, and they were unable to prevent it. These attacks are varied and include mortars, rockets, and a variety of drone attacks of varying levels. This means that the attacks come from different types of armed groups and have a high degree of diversification.
Due to the high level of technology of the drones used in this attack, the US military did not respond in time. As a result, the U.S. military speculates that this group has close ties to Iran and may be supported by high-level drones. Faced with this situation, the US military is faced with a difficult problem. In the early years, the U.S. military stationed a large number of combat troops in Iraq, and after being attacked by armed groups, it could launch severe retaliation and purge. However, at the moment there are only 2,500 US troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria. The U.S. military relies heavily on Iraq's cooperation to act. Therefore, although the United States has taken a tough stance on Iran, it has never had the idea of attacking Iran itself. In the event of such a war, the United States would hardly find allies and would have to fight alone. To defeat a large country with a population of more than 88 million, it will require human, material, and financial resources that the United States cannot afford.
The problem now is that the United States is trying to demonstrate its forward military presence with a small military force, while West Asian countries, including Iran, want to drive the United States out. Iran has been vocal in its opposition to the U.S. military presence, and at the beginning of the new year, Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani announced that he would set up a commission to expel the U.S.-led international coalition. This has emboldened various armed groups to attack US forces. The U.S. military bases in Iraq, Syria and other places are not fortresses armed to the teeth, and some outposts have rather rudimentary facilities. The closer they are to their opponent's zone of control, the more vulnerable they are. Although at the height of the so-called war on terror, the US military deployed many similar outposts. The U.S. military presence in Syria and Iraq has long been designed to combat Islamic State forces and protect the interests of U.S. oil companies. However, with the weakening of ISIS, these posts and makeshift bases have become targets. Despite this, the U.S. military held its ground because the withdrawal would have disastrous consequences.
And Iran and its surrounding forces have seen the weakness of the US military and are attacking them more and more boldly. The withdrawal of U.S. troops in West Asia would lead to a rise in Iran's influence in the region and could lead to the Gulf states abandoning military cooperation with the United States. In addition, Israel, America's closest ally in West Asia, will also face a difficult situation. Therefore, it is unlikely that US troops will withdraw unless there is a large-scale ** event. However, can we think about this from another angle? After all, the presence of the US military is not only to fight ISIS, there are other important factors. Let's ** it. First of all, the presence of US troops in Syria and Iraq really played a role in the fight against ISIS. The Islamic State is an extremist terrorist organization that poses a threat to the stability and security of the entire region. The presence of U.S. troops can help train and equip local forces to improve their ability to fight ISIS.
This not only helps to protect the lives of the local population, but also helps to reduce the spread of terrorism in other areas. Secondly, the presence of American oil companies in Syria and Iraq does have certain economic interests. These companies carry out oil extraction locally, providing the United States with an important energy resource. However, we cannot simply attribute the presence of the US military to the protection of oil interests. After all, the United States can also access energy resources in other ways without having to risk it militarily. So why is the U.S. military holding out in Syria and Iraq? Perhaps the answer lies in geopolitics. Iran is a major regional power with strong military and economic power. It has been trying to expand its influence in the Middle East and wrestle with the United States. However, the presence of the United States in Syria and Iraq can serve as a factor to contain Iran.
If U.S. troops withdraw, Iran will have more room to expand its sphere of influence, which is a huge challenge for the United States and its allies. In addition, Israel is one of the closest allies of the United States in the Middle East. It faces threats from Iran and other hostile forces. The presence of the US military can provide Israel with some protection and support, ensuring its security. If U.S. troops withdraw, Israel will face greater security risks, which is a threat to stability and peace in the entire region. In general, the main purpose of maintaining a forward presence of the US military in Syria and Iraq is to combat ISIS militants and protect the interests of American oil companies. However, in addition to this, geopolitical factors are also an important consideration. The withdrawal will lead to a rise in Iran's influence in the region and could lead to the Gulf states abandoning military cooperation with the United States. In addition, Israel, America's closest ally in West Asia, will also face a difficult situation.
Therefore, it is unlikely that US troops will withdraw unless there is a large-scale ** event. We need to recognize that this issue is not black and white. When making a decision, we need to take all the factors into account and weigh the pros and cons. Only then will we be able to find the most appropriate solution to ensure stability and security in the region.