As US rethinks regional presence, Israel shifts focus to destabilizing Iran
TEL AVIV — Uncertain how to interpret US military redeployment both in the Gulf region and closer to home, Israel is now focusing on efforts to destabilize the regime in Tehran and contingency plans in case Iran decides to pursue nuclear capabilities, Israeli security sources told Al-Monitor.
They said that frustration over waiting for the Americans to make up their minds is one of the reasons Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for new plans to destabilize the Iranian regime.
Mixed signals
Citing unnamed US sources, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 31 that the US is considering scaling down its military presence in Kuwait, which has served as its largest logistics hub for decades. Al-Monitor reported last week that the US military started redeploying its troops around Erbil in Iraq on Aug. 3, preparing to withdraw from the country as part of an agreement between Washington and Baghdad.
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