General claims Gulf states preparing for combat against Iran after strikes

After U.S.-led airstrikes shook Iran and toppled top regime officials, retired Gen. Jack Keane said Saturday the conflict could expand as key Gulf states prepare to act.

“It backfired on the Iranians,” Keane told “Fox & Friends Weekend.”

“They thought it would create an international outcry,” Keane said. “The war is spreading. It is now a regional war and, as such, the pressure [is] the United States and the Israelis are being asked to put an end to this situation. »

The Saturday morning strikes, described as a coordinated operation between the Israel Defense Forces and U.S. Central Command, targeted senior Iranian leaders as well as Iran’s ballistic missile and drone infrastructure, according to military officials.

Israeli firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a car at the site of a projectile impact after Iran launched missiles at Israel, following Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran, in Tel Aviv, Israel, February 28. (Tomer Appelbaum/Reuters)

This rare daytime attack eliminated some of the leaders of the Islamic regime, including the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Keane said some Gulf countries that once publicly criticized the strikes were now changing their positions.

“The Gulf countries are reacting. They are defending themselves adequately [with technology supplied by the U.S.]…they are frustrated with the Iranians,” he said.

IRAN’S TERROR PROXY, FROM IRAQ TO LEBANON, SAY THEY’RE READY TO RESPOND TO US AND ISRAELI ATTACKS

This map shows the targets of Iran’s retaliatory strikes. (Fox News)

“Publicly, they supported the Iranians and resisted the strike. Privately, they supported the United States and the Israeli military. I think we should end this nonsense once and for all. You are with us publicly and privately.”

Keane told Fox News’ Griff Jenkins that three Gulf states were preparing for combat, but declined to identify them.

“One has already started and two others are about to start,” he said.

“I’m not going to talk about who they are, but this is coordinated with Admiral Cooper and Central Command. They will be coordinated and selected targets, and they will contribute to the offensive nature of what is happening – the Israeli military, Central Command and the Gulf States.”

Keane said the next 48 hours will be focused on neutralizing Iran’s remaining retaliatory capabilities – including ballistic missiles and drone stockpiles – to prevent further attacks on US troops, Israeli civilians and US allies in the Gulf.

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“If you decapitate leadership, if you destroy command and control, if you conduct significant cyberattacks against command and control capability, that is a major disruption in terms of its effects,” he said.

He added that air superiority has already been achieved, allowing U.S. and allied forces to “go wherever we want to go” inside Iranian territory.

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