
THE US is planning to deploy as many as 120,000 troops to the Middle East if Iran attacks American forces, a bombshell report claimed last night.
In chilling echoes of the invasion of Iraq, US defence chiefs have reportedly drawn up fresh military plans that would see a huge response to Iranian aggression.
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan revealed the audacious strategy to America’s top national security aides last Thursday, according to the New York Times.
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The deployment could also be sparked if Iran accelerates its work on nuclear weapons, according to defense sources – in breach of an international treaty.
President Trump’s hard-line national security adviser John Bolton is said to have ordered the heavily beefed-up military plans in response to growing tensions in the region.
Echoes Of Iraq
It is unclear if President Trump – who has tried to scale back US military involvement in the Middle East – would order the deployment.
Such a large force would be able to launch an invasion on the scale of Iraq in 2003 – and would almost certainly be met with a military response from Iran.
Mr Trump yesterday refused to play down the prospect of an all-out war.
When asked if an invasion was on the table, the president said: “We’ll see what happens with Iran.
“If they do anything, it would be a very bad mistake.”
Spokesmen for Mr Shanahan and Gen Joseph F Dunford Jr – the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff – declined to comment to the New York Times.
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(4) Second attack on Gulf oil: Drones drop explosives on two Saudi oil pumping stations
(5) The Golan is next after Iran hit 3 Gulf oil targets, say Rev Guards associates