In 2023, Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, said the Middle East was on the verge of an unprecedented and transformative process. Now, in 2024, no other region presents more of a threat to the United States than the region CENTCOM monitors — which includes the Middle East, the Levant and parts of central Asia — according to Kurilla.
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“Today, the central region faces its most volatile security situation in the past half century,” Kurilla said while speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing on the fiscal year 2025 Defense Authorization Act. “This is not the same central region as last year.”
After Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attacks against Israel, Iran saw an opportunity to try and reshape the Middle East to its advantage, according to Kurilla — a once-in-a generation opportunity for Iran.
“Iran has worked for decades to strategically encircle the region with its proxies,” Kurilla said. “In the past six months, we have seen every proxy in the Iranian threat network operationalized in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and Yemen.”
The proxies are now mobilized, and Iran has them given nearly full-access to all of the advanced weaponry it produces.
As talks of a cease-fire in Gaza show little sign of progress, there are now reports surfacing saying Israel may be planning to launch a ground attack against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah — also an Iranian proxy — used the war in Gaza to increase its own barrage of attacks.
In addition to Iran and its proxies, Kurilla said ISIS is still active in the area and will likely try to attack the U.S. within the next six months.
Collectively, Iran, Russia and China are strengthening their relationships and foster a chaotic landscape favorable for their exploitation.
Gen. Michael E. Kurilla
China and Russia are also capitalizing on the instability of the region, according to Kurilla.
“[China and Russia] have shown meager interest or capability to reduce regional tensions, but rather, they have increased their efforts to pressurize regional partners across all elements of national power,” Kurilla said. “Collectively, Iran, Russia and China are strengthening their relationships and foster a chaotic landscape favorable for their exploitation.”
Iran sells about 90% of its oil to China. Tehran and Moscow have multiple defensive agreements in place, including the exchange of weaponry.
Despite the rising threats, according to Kurilla, the U.S. continues to hold a strategic advantage over its enemies in terms of military partnerships.
