Senior Pentagon Official: United States Concerned About the Expansion of Relations Among Iran, Russia, and Syria

A senior U.S. defense official announced on Friday, July 14, that the United States is deeply concerned about the expanding relations among Iran, Russia, and Syria across the Middle East. According to the English section of Voice of America, this senior Pentagon official stated that the United States is considering some military options to counter the increasing Russian incursions in Syrian airspace, which complicated efforts to target one of the leaders of ISIS over the past weekend. He noted that Russia's military activity, which has increased in both number and attacks since March, is a result of enhanced cooperation and coordination among Moscow, Tehran, and the Syrian government aimed at pressuring the U.S. to withdraw from Syria. This senior Pentagon official emphasized that Russia is dependent on the Islamic Republic's support for the war in Ukraine, and the Islamic Republic desires the U.S. withdrawal from Syria to facilitate the transfer of lethal aid to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to threaten Israel. He further stated that the U.S. has observed increased cooperation, planning, and intelligence sharing primarily between mid-level leaders of Russia and the Quds Force of the IRGC in Syria, aimed at pressuring the U.S. to leave Syria. Approximately 900 American forces are present in Syria, with others rotating in and out for missions targeting ISIS militants. The Islamic Republic claims that IRGC members in Syria have advisory roles and operate at the invitation of the Bashar al-Assad government. Dozens of senior IRGC members have been killed in Syria over the past years. Iran has been a key supporter of Bashar al-Assad in the 12-year civil war in Syria, and Iranian-backed militants, including Hezbollah, control parts of the east, south, and north, as well as the outskirts of Damascus. Russia vetoed the Security Council's resolution on continuing aid to Syria; the U.S. expressed regret. The U.S. and Israel began joint military exercises; the Jerusalem Post reported this as a threat to Iran. CENTCOM reported that the ISIS leader in eastern Syria was killed in a drone strike. The International Court of Justice is addressing Canada's and the Netherlands' complaint against the Syrian government.