Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel Daniel L. Davis has said "I really hope that I am wrong" as he issued a stark warning about the potential for American involvement in the escalating Middle East conflict.
His comments come in the wake of Iran's recent missile attack on Israel, which saw up to 200 missiles launched towards Israeli territory.
Davis expressed grave concerns about the US being "sucked into a war" and emphasised the potential for significant casualties on both American and Israeli sides.
The retired officer's remarks highlight the growing tensions in the region following Israel's invasion of Lebanon and the deaths of key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
Davis expressed deep concern about the trajectory of events
GBNA
The attack followed an earlier Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon, aimed at crippling the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia.
Davis expressed deep concern about the trajectory of events, telling GBN America: "I think it will be stupid. I think we'll get sucked into a war. I truly hope that I'm proven wrong."
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He pointed to recent emphatic statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and support from American officials as indicators of potential conflict escalation.
The retired lieutenant colonel highlighted the deployment of US airpower to the region as a worrying sign.
"It just really looks like this is getting set up to be an expensive war," Davis warned, emphasising the human cost of such a conflict.
He stressed that the situation could be far more severe than previous US interventions in Syria or Libya.
Israel was struck by a missile attack from Iran as conflict in the Middle East intensifiesReutersDavis highlighted the bipartisan support for Israel in US politics, noting: "This is one of the few areas of this current election that there is no space between any of the whether it's Biden, Harris or Trump."
He expressed concern about the American media's backing of Israeli actions, stating: "The American media is hugely behind anything that Israel does here."
This unified political and media stance, Davis argues, could contribute to conflict escalation.
He lamented that few Americans understand the potential consequences, saying: "Few people in America have any concept of what this could mean."
He warned that unlike past conflicts, the current situation poses greater risks of retaliation
GBNA
Davis warned that unlike past conflicts, the current situation poses greater risks of retaliation against American and Israeli targets.
Davis drew stark comparisons to past conflicts, emphasising that this situation could be far more devastating.
He warned: "This time, the enemy has the ability to strike back against American targets in the Middle East, and definitely against Israeli targets. That can kill a lot of people."
The retired officer's experience in similar wars lends weight to his concerns. He expressed frustration that many Americans lack understanding of the potential consequences.
Davis's analysis suggests that the current conflict could escalate beyond previous interventions, with Iran possessing capabilities to retaliate effectively against both US and Israeli interests in the region.