Such a deployment has not been seen since the 2003 invasion of Iraq
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.
A huge deployment of up to 120,000 troops is being planned if Iran attacks American forces in a chilling echo of the Iraq war (file photo)
US Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has already been deployed to the region to beef up American military might
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan revealed the audacious strategy to America's top national security aides last Thursday, according to the
New York Times.
The top secret plans are said to spell out how a vast land, air and sea force would be sent to America's regional allies bordering Iran should its foe attack US forces.
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.
Fevered tensions between the US and Iran have increased in recent days as an American military presence in the region is heightened in response to alleged Iranian threats
The oil tanker MT Andrea Victory off the coast of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, was hit by a sabotage attack - which is being blamed on Iranoil tankers including one bound for US hit by ‘sabotage attack’ amid Iran standoff
TANKERS ATTACKED
The revelations come after it emerged yesterday that oil tankers bound for the US were
hit by a "sabotage attack" off the United Arab Emirates.
Emirati officials are investigating - and US intelligence believes Iran is responsible.
A huge US naval presence has already built up in the Gulf over recent days as Washington accuses Terhan of plotting to disrupt and attack its interests and allies.
An aircraft carrier group, Patriot missiles and
B-52 bombers have been sent to counter alleged - but as yet specified - threats in the region.
ISRAEL THREAT
And last night Iran
threatened to attack US ally Israel in retaliation for any strike by American military forces.
Iranian Parliament's vice-speaker Ali Motahhari said: “The US military forces' deployment in the Persian Gulf is more of the nature of psychological warfare.
“They are not ready for a war - especially when Israel is within our range.”
Iran has allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip - but it also has a number of missiles aimed at Israel.
We are very worried about the risk of a conflict happening by accident, with an escalation that is unintended really on either side but ends with some kind of conflict
Jeremy HuntBritish Foreign Secretary
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday warned that America and Iran are in danger of stumbling into a conflict.
Mr Hunt said he would be speaking to visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as European allies about fears a war could erupt accidentally.
He said: “We are very worried about the risk of a conflict happening by accident, with an escalation that is unintended really on either side but ends with some kind of conflict.
"What we need is a period of calm to make sure that everyone understands what the other side is thinking.”
And ex-Admiral Lord West said launching military strikes against Iran would be "an absolute catastrophe".
Speaking at Westminster, the former military top brass said the current situation in the region was "extremely dangerous".
TheSun
