Recent waves of US strikes on Iran have targeted Iranian military capabilities, effectively strengthening additional military options for President Donald Trump, according to three US officials.
Military Options
The officials, who were granted anonymity to discuss military matters, said the strikes have targeted Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar, missile and drone sites, as well as small boats and other maritime assets.
The US military has said its latest bombings have been aimed at degrading Iranian defenses in case the US military was ordered to carry out more intensive operations in the future. One of the US officials described the strikes as “shaping operations” that are helping set the stage for potential future operations.
President Trump has kept the world guessing about his next steps after notifying Congress of a formal resumption of conflict with Iran. The Iran war continues to rage after the unraveling of a memorandum of understanding that was meant to stop the fighting and pave the way for a peace agreement.
Tactical Wins, Strategic Stalemate
Critics of Trump’s war with Iran say that while it achieved tactical victories, it failed strategically to win concessions from Tehran. The US has been trying to force open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for a fifth of the world’s crude output.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
