Intelligence officials have calculated that Tehran does not have full control over its proxy groups in the Middle East, including those responsible for attacking and killing U.S. troops in recent weeks, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The Quds Force — an elite branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps — is responsible for sending weapons and military advisers as well as intelligence to support militias in Iraq and Syria as well as the Houthis in Yemen. The groups have varying ambitions and agendas, which sometimes overlap, but Tehran does not appear to have complete authority over their operational decision-making, the officials said.
While the disclosure means it may be particularly hard to predict what actions these groups will take, it also could lower the chance of the U.S. getting pulled into a direct confrontation with Iran. Any indication that Tehran was directly involved in ordering or overseeing the attacks would make U.S. retaliation against Iran more likely.
Reports have indicated that the U.S. is considering striking Iranian targets in Iraq and Syria in response to the Jordan attack. But Biden officials have not publicly discussed their planning.
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@OryxSidRepublican2yrs2Y
Translation: The Biden admin continues to believe, despite extensive evidence, that appeasement is the way to manage Tehran and is therefore desperate to provide them with cover for the actions of their proxies.
@QuickBearConstitution2yrs2Y
It's not appeasement to manage Tehran.
It's appeasement bc they want Tehran to like them.
There has been some serious envy of Iran's iron fist rule since early in the Obama admin.
It's why Obama gave passive approval of squashing the Green Revolution of 2009
@DiscerningElectionGreen2yrs2Y
Admin was swiss cheesed with Iranian agents. Is it still?
@GrizzlyPenelopeGreen2yrs2Y
These groups in Iraq are part of Iraqi’s security apparatus and have locals in the militia. Groups like Kataib Hezbollah have allegiance to Iran but they usually conduct their own operations. They in past have attacked US forces in Iraq. It’s unlikely that US will attack Iran but striking these groups in Iraq or Syria, which the US has done it in the past as well.
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