TEHRAN – Washington’s involvement in Israel’s latest assault against the besieged Gaza strip is part of a larger push aimed at strengthening the U.S. military presence in the West Asia region, according to an Iran-Iraq war veteran.

“It’s not merely about Gaza, the U.S. has been weakened in Iraq and Syria and needs an excuse to bring back its troops to West Asia,” said Mohsen Rezaei during an interview with Al-Jazeera.

The former IRGC commander who is also a member of Iran’s Expediency Council said it is probable that Washington tries to distance itself from Ukraine and Taiwan in order to open a stronger front in West Asia. “They might even establish new bases in the Persian Gulf, Iraq or the Sinai Peninsula,” he added. 

He however warned that countries in the region are different from when the U.S. had decided to invade Iraq and Afghanistan. “It is on them [Americans] to decide whether they want to enter a war with Islamic countries”. 

The former senior commander also ruled out Iran’s alleged involvement in the recent attacks against American bases in the region. “We have no involvement in these attacks. It is only natural that people in oil-rich parts of Syria and Iraq would decide to respond to America’s occupation. If they don’t want to get attacked then they must leave these areas,” he noted. 

The veteran further explained that it would be “impossible” for Israel to eradicate resistance forces in Gaza, saying the regime’s ground offensive into the territory would surely act as a blowback. 

Rezaei also warned that Iran would firmly respond to any sort of threats. “We have no limits in defending our country and nation. Our military is far more advanced than it was only five years ago and we have weapons that we have not even disclosed yet.”
 
MHA/PA