{"id":57283,"date":"2020-02-02T20:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T20:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/02\/additional-military-presence-in-region-leads-to-uneasy-quiet-in-mideast-says-top-us-central-command-leader\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:49:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T11:49:34","slug":"additional-military-presence-in-region-leads-to-uneasy-quiet-in-mideast-says-top-us-central-command-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/2020\/02\/02\/additional-military-presence-in-region-leads-to-uneasy-quiet-in-mideast-says-top-us-central-command-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Additional military presence in Mideast delivers message of deterrence to Iran, says top US Central Command leader"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ABOARD THE USS HARRY S TRUMAN \u2014 Nearly a month after Iran launched a rare direct military attack against United States forces in Iraq, an uneasy quiet has settled across the Mideast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watching fighter jets roar off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, the top U.S. commander for the region believes he is surrounded by one of the reasons that Iran has dialed back its combat stance, at least for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re here because we don\u2019t want a war with Iran and nothing makes a potential adversary think twice about war than the presence of an aircraft carrier and the strike group that comes with it,\u201d Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie told the nearly 5,000 service members on board the 100,000-ton ship. \u201cSo, we achieve deterrence, which is preventing Iran from starting a war.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patrolling through the North Arabian Sea, the Truman was about 150 miles (240 kilometers) from Iran when McKenzie and a small number of staff flew aboard on Saturday. His overnight stay on the ship underscored his belief that the additional ships, aircraft, weapons systems and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2020\/01\/29\/us-expands-troop-fighter-jet-presence-at-saudi-base\/\" target=\"_blank\">thousands of troops<\/a> that the U.S. has poured into the region in recent months deliver a message. It\u2019s one he thinks <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/01\/08\/trump-says-iran-is-standing-down-after-missile-attacks-on-us-troops\/\" target=\"_blank\">Iran has received<\/a>.<\/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\/01\/23\/us-central-command-general-says-troop-surge-in-middle-east-may-not-end-soon\/\" 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\/AP20023588124750.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\">US Central Command general says troop surge in Middle East may not end soon<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Over the past eight months, the United States has poured more than 20,000 additional troops into the Middle East to counter the escalating threat from Iran that peaked with the recent missile attack on American forces in Iraq.<\/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\">Since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2020\/01\/08\/iran-gave-prior-warnings-about-missile-attacks-spurring-hopes-for-de-escalation\/\" target=\"_blank\">Iran launched a flurry of ballistic missiles<\/a> at U.S. forces in Iraq in retaliation for an American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general, there has been a visible reduction in Tehran\u2019s military posture, McKenzie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said Iran brought its ballistic missile force and its air defenses back down from a heightened state of readiness. Also, the level of harassment and other activity by Iran\u2019s naval forces around the congested Strait of Hormuz has been scaled back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6049981.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie\" class=\"wp-image-55051\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6049981.jpg.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6049981.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6049981.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6049981.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6049981.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, center, visits airmen assigned to the 332 Air Expeditionary Wing, Jan. 24, 2020, at an undisclosed location. (Staff Sgt. Alexandria Brun\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drone strike that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2020\/01\/03\/iraq-rockets-fired-at-baghdad-airport-7-people-killed\/\" target=_blank>killed Qassem Soleimani<\/a>, the top Quds Force general, showed that the U.S. is willing to take action, and the arrival of the Truman and the other warships had underscored that, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen an aircraft carrier is in your neighborhood you know it,\u201d said Navy Capt. Kavon Hakimzadeh, the Truman\u2019s commanding officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said his ship left Norfolk, Virginia, in mid-November and \u201calmost made a beeline for the Suez Canal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, as they maneuver off the coast of Oman, a steady stream of fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and helicopters launch off the 4.5 acre (1.8 hectare) flight deck, conducting a show of force that also allows them to keep up their training in case they are needed for combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re practicing our craft,\u201d said Hakimzadeh, or Capt. Hak, as he is known on the ship. \u201cOur job is to fuel up, load up and launch airplanes. The only real change is whether or not the airplanes come back with bombs or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far they haven\u2019t dropped any bombs. Some of the ships are taking part in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2020\/01\/15\/us-warns-vessels-transiting-persian-gulf-amid-tensions-with-iran\/\" target=\"_blank\">the maritime coalition<\/a> that is safeguarding the Strait of Hormuz, in the wake of Iranian attacks against commercial vessels last year. Others protect the carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20033705889085.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"Frank McKenzie,Maguel Brooks\" class=\"wp-image-99290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20033705889085.jpg.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20033705889085.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20033705889085.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20033705889085.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20033705889085.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, top U.S. commander for the Middle East, right, listens as Lt. Maguel Brooks, the USS Harry S. Truman&#8217;s handler, left, explains the movement of aircraft on the aircraft carrier&#8217;s flight deck, on board the Truman in the North Arabian Sea, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (Lolita Baldor\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From the bridge, where McKenzie spoke to the crew over the ship\u2019s loudspeakers, he could look out at the horizon and see the USS Normandy. The weapons-loaded warship stands as a sentry between the carrier and Iran. Out of view were four American Navy destroyers. Another warship loaded with Marines is further up the Red Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite widespread demands for U.S. Navy ships in other parts of the world, McKenzie requested and received a much larger than usual naval presence in his area. Both the Truman and the USS Bataan steamed rapidly across the Mediterranean to get to the Gulf region, and in a somewhat rare move, one of the destroyers assigned to Europe, the USS Carney, was shifted south to join the Truman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McKenzie and other commanders on the ship acknowledge that deterrence is a hard thing to measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But speaking to F\/A-18 fighter pilots in their ready room, McKenzie mapped out the timeline. Last April and May, he said, Iranian leadership decided to begin more active offensive military operations in the region.<\/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\/01\/31\/top-commander-sees-increased-iran-threat-in-afghanistan\/\" 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\/AP20031434250955-1.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\">Top commander sees increased Iran threat in Afghanistan<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, told reporters traveling with him that he is seeing a \u201cworrisome trend,\u201d of Iranian malign interference.<\/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\">In the succeeding months, there were attacks on ships in the Gulf, a pipeline in Saudi Arabia and, on Sept. 14, strikes on Saudi oil facilities. The violence spurred U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper to beef up the military presence in the Gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Esper, however, has made it clear that America\u2019s top defense priorities are threats from China and Russia, and he is looking to send more forces to the Pacific region. For McKenzie, that means frequent discussions with defense leaders about his assessment of the Iranian threat in the Middle East and why he needs the forces he has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou know what I associate with that period of time,\u201d said McKenzie, referring to early last spring. \u201cThere was no carrier\u201d in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, he said, there is a \u201crough kind of stability\u201d in the region. But he is reluctant to say how long that will last, or how long he will be able to hold onto the military might he\u2019s accumulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And over the loudspeaker, he made that uncertainty clear to the Truman crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne thing I know everybody wants to know is how long you\u2019re gonna be here,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I\u2019m gonna be honest with you. I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly a month after Iran launched a rare direct military attack against United States forces in Iraq, an uneasy quiet has settled across the Mideast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":99287,"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":12,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,8,23,93,12,25,67],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1365],"class_list":["post-57283","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"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"JLAYJFITLFBGTDDGNK65T7EX2Y","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-military\/2020\/02\/02\/additional-military-presence-in-region-leads-to-uneasy-quiet-in-mideast-says-top-us-central-command-leader\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"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>Additional military presence in Mideast delivers message of deterrence to Iran, says top US Central Command leader - Marine Corps Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nearly a month after Iran launched a rare direct military attack against United States forces in Iraq, an uneasy quiet has settled across the Mideast.\" \/>\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\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2020\/02\/02\/additional-military-presence-in-region-leads-to-uneasy-quiet-in-mideast-says-top-us-central-command-leader\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Additional military presence in Mideast delivers message of deterrence to Iran, says top US Central Command leader\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nearly a month after Iran launched a rare direct military attack against United States forces in Iraq, an uneasy quiet has settled across the Mideast.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/2020\/02\/02\/additional-military-presence-in-region-leads-to-uneasy-quiet-in-mideast-says-top-us-central-command-leader\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Marine Corps Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-02-02T20:00:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T11:49:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lolita C. 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