{"id":20459,"date":"2020-03-13T14:08:31","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T14:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/03\/13\/us-keeping-two-carriers-in-mideast-moving-patriot-missile-batteries-into-iraq-as-iran-tensions-mount\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:16:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:16:42","slug":"us-keeping-two-carriers-in-mideast-moving-patriot-missile-batteries-into-iraq-as-iran-tensions-mount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/03\/13\/us-keeping-two-carriers-in-mideast-moving-patriot-missile-batteries-into-iraq-as-iran-tensions-mount\/","title":{"rendered":"US keeping two carriers in Mideast, moving Patriot missile batteries into Iraq as Iran tensions mount"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-smg-jwplayer-video\"><atype-video-jwplayer nostick=\"true\" playlisturl=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/v2\/playlists\/fCzRqMW8?tags=82fc99a4-8135-4b91-9a3b-0c7510557ae1\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/video-poster-82fc99a4-8135-4b91-9a3b-0c7510557ae1.png\" aspectratio=\"16 \/ 9\" mute autostart=\"false\"><\/atype-video-jwplayer><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Central Command released video of the site of its recent strike in Taji against a &#8220;terrorist weapons storage facility.&#8221; (Video: U.S. Central Command)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The commander of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2020\/03\/11\/more-than-15-small-rockets-slam-iraqi-base-housing-coalition-troops\/\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. Central Command<\/a> told reporters at the Pentagon Friday that the U.S. would retain two aircraft carriers in the Middle East and is in the process of moving Patriot missile defense batteries into Iraq as Iran tensions mount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move by CENTCOM comes following a deadly rocket attack on an Iraqi base that killed two U.S. service members and a U.K. armed forces member. The U.S. responded to that attack Thursday launching airstrikes against five weapons storage depots belonging to an Iran-backed militia known as Kataib Hezbollah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the comander of CENTCOM, told reporters Friday that the carrier operations in the Middle East would be the \u201cfirst period of extended dual carrier operations\u201d in the region since 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently the Nimitz-class Dwight D. Eisenhower and Harry S. Truman are operating in the the CENTCOM area of operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI would caution Iran and its proxies from attempting a response that would endanger U.S. and coalition forces,\u201d McKenzie said. \u201cWe have the flexibility, the capability, and the will to respond to any threat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2020\/03\/12\/officials-us-strikes-iran-backed-group-that-hit-iraq-base-killing-2-american-troops\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20055857107915.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Pentagon: US strikes Iran-backed group that hit Iraq base<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The U.S. launched airstrikes in Iraq Thursday, American officials said, targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bolstered carrier support provides added flexibility for the U.S. military across CENTCOM, McKenzie said. He explained to reporters Friday that the carrier is a \u201cfloating piece of American sovereignty\u201d that allows commanders to use American air power without stringent controls from host nation forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McKenzie also said the carrier \u201cprovides enormous capacity\u201d that Iran monitors \u201cvery closely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CENTCOM commander explained to reporters that the U.S. is still in the early stages of moving Patriot systems into Iraq to help defend against any Iranian ballistic missile strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In early January, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles targeting two Iraqi bases housing coalition troops following a U.S. strike that killed Iran Iran Quds Force commander <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2020\/01\/03\/iraq-rockets-fired-at-baghdad-airport-7-people-killed\/\" target=_blank>Qassem Soleimani<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McKenzie said some preparatory material for the Patriots were already in Iraq but it would be \u201csome days\u201d before the missile defense batteries were operational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. is also positioning counter rocket, artillery, and mortar, or C-RAM systems into Iraq to help protect the Patriot batteries. C-RAM systems can be used to defend bases from indirect fire and mortars, but McKenzie explained they\u2019re often used to bolster the defense of Patriot systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Patriot batteries are moved into position they become a \u201cvery high value target.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Camp Taji, the Iraqi base hit by 18 rockets on Wednesday, did not have a C-RAM system. McKenzie told reporters that CENTCOM has to \u201cruthlessly prioritize\u201d where it places defensive equipment because there are more troops than systems and assets available to protect everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1872\" height=\"818\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Taji-post.png.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-45262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Taji-post.png.png 1872w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Taji-post.png.png?resize=300,131 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Taji-post.png.png?resize=768,336 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Taji-post.png.png?resize=1024,447 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Taji-post.png.png?resize=1536,671 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1872px) 100vw, 1872px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Imagery of five Kataib Hezbollahweapons storage facilities hit by coalition airstrikes on March 12. (U.S. Central Command)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McKenzie said it was an \u201cunpleasant fact\u201d but the U.S. \u201ccan\u2019t have C-RAM everywhere.\u201d The CENTCOM commander also noted that the C-RAM is \u201cnot a panacea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Friday, McKenzie said the threat from Iran \u201cremains very high\u201d following the latest rocket attack against coalition forces involving an Iran-backed Shia militia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McKenzie warned that tensions with Tehran have not come down and may be exacerbated by the high number of coronavirus, or COVID-19 deaths in Iran. McKenzie said CENTCOM believed Iran was under-reporting the number of COVID-19 deaths inside the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He cautioned that virus may be increasing pressure on Iranian leaders that could push the authoritarian regime to turn outward \u201cto marshal against a common foe.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Thursday evening manned coalition fighter aircraft launched retaliatory strikes against five Kataib Hezbollah storage depots that McKenzie said housed \u201cadvanced conventional weapons\u201d supplied by Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/03\/13\/soldier-airman-identified-as-us-troops-killed-in-rocket-attack-on-iraq-base\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"170\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-13-at-11.40.09.png.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Soldier, airman identified as US troops killed in rocket attack on Iraq base<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">&quot;Our fallen comrades have a legacy that will never be forgotten,&quot; said the commanding general of the coalition.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McKenzie said he was confident destroyed targets can \u201cno longer\u201d house Iran supplied weapons and parts. He said there was \u201csuccess at all sites.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McKenzie says he believes Iran has been deterred from conducting future state on state attacks through U.S. actions and recent defensive strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey [Iran] have always respected our capability, but they\u2019ve had doubts about our will,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cI would caution Iran and its proxies from attempting a response that would endanger U.S. and coaltion forces,\u201d McKenzie said. \u201cWe have the flexibility, the capability, and the will to respond to any threat.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":28940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":8,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,8,23,93,12,25,67,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3398],"class_list":["post-20459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"OSGP2UEPG5H3DIWM2I77FJX73U","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/2020\/03\/13\/us-keeping-two-carriers-in-mideast-moving-patriot-missile-batteries-into-iraq-as-iran-tensions-mount\/","remove_feature_photo":true,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>US keeping two carriers in Mideast, moving Patriot missile batteries into Iraq as Iran tensions mount - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u201cI would caution Iran and its proxies from attempting a response that would endanger U.S. and coaltion forces,\u201d McKenzie said. \u201cWe have the flexibility, the capability, and the will to respond to any threat.\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/03\/13\/us-keeping-two-carriers-in-mideast-moving-patriot-missile-batteries-into-iraq-as-iran-tensions-mount\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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