CENTCOM Commander Outlines Iran Strike Plans, Warns of Proxy Threats and Regional Instability
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) — The United States is prepared to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure if necessary, according to Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, who confirmed Tuesday that President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have been presented with a full range of military options.
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Gen. Kurilla said CENTCOM continues to assess force posture daily amid escalating tensions with Tehran. “I have provided the Secretary of Defense and the President a wide range of options,” he said, cautioning that an independent Israeli military strike on Iran could endanger U.S. personnel throughout the region.
Kurilla’s remarks come days after President Trump reportedly warned Israeli leaders against acting unilaterally while U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations remain underway. Still, Trump has reiterated that if talks collapse, Israel will be part of any coordinated U.S. military action.
In a sweeping assessment of regional threats, Kurilla described Iran as the central destabilizing actor, asserting that Tehran has operationalized its entire proxy network since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel. “Iran’s objective remains the same—preserve the regime, spread their ideology, and destroy the State of Israel,” Kurilla told lawmakers.
Hezbollah, once a cornerstone of Iran’s deterrence strategy, has suffered significant losses, Kurilla noted. High-profile figures like Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Hassan Nasrallah have been “neutralized,” while weapons supply lines through Syria have collapsed. “Soleimani’s vision of a Shia Crescent has been shattered,” Kurilla said, calling the collapse of the Assad regime a strategic blow to Tehran.
Kurilla also outlined Iran’s direct military engagement, citing major missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory in April and October 2024. Nearly 500 projectiles were launched, with only one casualty—a Palestinian from Gaza—thanks to integrated regional air defenses under CENTCOM’s MEAD (Middle East Air Defense) initiative.
Turning to Yemen, Kurilla said Iran-backed Houthis remain an entrenched threat. Despite U.S.-led strikes degrading their capabilities, the group has carried out more than 300 attacks targeting maritime vessels and Israel. “There are IRGC experts in Yemen helping them manufacture weapons,” Kurilla said, warning the Houthis continue to exploit smuggling routes across the Red Sea.
In Syria, CENTCOM is working with Kurdish and Arab partners to stabilize territory reclaimed from ISIS and prevent Iranian influence from taking root amid post-war reconstruction. Kurilla praised Turkey’s recent contributions and emphasized the importance of a unified front to bolster a new Syrian government framework.
On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Kurilla expressed grave concern over Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile. “If the regime decides to sprint to a nuclear weapon, it could produce weapons-grade material in approximately one week,” he warned. CENTCOM, he said, stands ready to act if diplomacy fails.
General Kurilla concluded by urging U.S. policymakers to seize the strategic momentum in the region. “We now have an unprecedented opportunity to advance the vision of a prosperous and integrated Middle East,” he said. Cooperation with Israel and regional allies, he stressed, remains the cornerstone of U.S. deterrence strategy and long-term security in the region.
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