index

DoD: Stability in the middle east remains a priority

GEAR CHECK: Our readers don't just follow the news - they stay ready. Featured gear from this story is below.

Jamie Goldstein

Although the United States no longer holds ground in Iraq or Syria, the Defense Department is keeping its collective finger on the proverbial pulse of the middle east.

According to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense for the Middle East, Dana Stroul, ISIS still remains a threat, but Iran continues to be the biggest source of instability in the region.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: DoD Continues Mission to Stabilize the Middle East <a href="https://t.co/Qiusu1n5Cs">https://t.co/Qiusu1n5Cs</a></p>&mdash; Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1511475380019945480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Earlier this week, Stroul said that Iran’s continued status as a viable threat boil down to their continued “sponsorship and cultivation of violent proxies and terrorists, its proliferation of increasingly advanced and lethal unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, its ballistic missile program, maritime aggression and smuggling activities at sea, according to the Pentagon.

Stroul said, “U.S. forces specifically, who remain present in northeast Syria to assist in the fight against ISIS through local partners, experience on a very regular basis threats from Iran and Iran-backed proxies.”

“We as a department are leaning into multilateral security cooperation to effectively deter against Iran and Iran-backed threats, violent extremist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda, and other transboundary threats,” she continued. “We support the State Department in implementing proactive diplomacy to reduce tensions and de-escalate ongoing conflicts.”

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has historically utilized military force to respond to conflict. Stroul said that this ongoing approach to potentially diplomatic issues has left Syrians “more vulnerable… more hungry, more impoverished and further away from achieving any measure of political reform than they have been at any point.”

Stroul also stated that sanctions put in place against Syria by the US will remain un-waivered. She said, “We do not support the reconstruction of Syria until there is irreversible progress toward a political solution.”

The Depertment of Defense continues its operations along with 78 other nations, as well as private international support, to provide “military capabilities, funding and political support to the campaign against ISIS, according to the Department.

 

You may also like

Blog

New York City’s decision not to renew a lease with an Israeli-linked drone manufacturer at the Brooklyn Navy Yard has ignited a fierce political and cultural clash, raising questions about public policy, economic priorities and antisemitism in municipal governance. The controversy underscores broader tensions in NYC’s political landscape under newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
A partial U.S. government shutdown centered on funding for the Department of Homeland Security has stymied negotiations in Washington, leaving many federal functions in limbo and frontline workers operating without guaranteed pay. Even as most federal operations remain funded throughout the fiscal year, the impasse has highlighted deep political divides and tangible disruptions in services and workforce morale.
Spain plans a criminal probe into X, Meta and TikTok over allegations their AI tools enabled creation and spread of child sexual abuse material.
Former rugby league winger Matt Utai is in serious condition after a targeted shooting outside his home in Sydney, prompting a police investigation.
The United States approved a $45 million Hellfire missile sale to Denmark while political tensions and rhetoric continue over Greenland’s strategic future.

Like This Story? Check Out What Our Community Is Buying

Our best sellers are designed for real-world use - not hype.

View Best Sellers