Latest news with #GenKurilla
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Gen. Erik ‘Gorilla' Kurilla—Not Pete Hegseth—Leading U.S. Military On Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly deferred authority on the U.S. military's involvement in the Middle East to Gen. Erik Kurilla, the U.S. Central Command chief known as 'The Gorilla' who served earlier tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and an Iran hawk, who has pressed for a more aggressive response in the region. Kurilla, appointed as the head of U.S. Central Command by Joe Biden, has become the apparent go-to ... More advisor for the Trump administration in the Middle East. Kurilla, a Biden appointee, has become the leading adviser on the Middle East over other Department of Defense officials, and he has held an audience with President Donald Trump more than any other general, Politico reported, citing unnamed former and current defense officials. Hegseth has yet to turn down a request from Kurilla for more military assets in the Middle East, including new fighter planes, a person familiar with their dynamic told Politico, despite resistance to sending more weapons from Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Pentagon's policy chief Elbridge Colby. Dan Caldwell, a former adviser to Hegseth, told 'Breaking Points' that Kurilla has a 'fundamentally different view on the importance of the Middle East' than other officials in the Trump administration, adding Kurilla likely believes a 'military campaign against Iran will not be as costly as others.' Caldwell suggested Kurilla was likely becoming more vocal as his three-year tenure as CENTCOM chief nears its end. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell disputed Hegseth's deference to Kurilla, telling Politico in a statement Hegseth 'empowers all of his combatant commanders the same way, by decentralizing command and harnessing their real-world expertise,' while another defense official said Kurilla and Caine have a 'hand in glove relationship.' During a congressional hearing earlier this month, Kurilla said he presented a 'wide range of options' to Hegeth and Trump to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. When asked if CENTCOM would respond with overwhelming force if Iran failed to give up its nuclear program, Kurilla responded, 'Yes.' Kurilla was the subject of a U.S. Army-led investigation after he allegedly pushed a subordinate service member during a trip to the Middle East in 2024. Three unnamed U.S. officials told NBC News that Kurilla allegedly shoved an airman when Kurilla was asked to sit down during a flight to Israel. CENTCOM said at the time that officials were not aware of an investigation into Kurilla. Kurilla, 59, is an Elk River, Minnesota, native who was commissioned into the U.S. Army as an infantry officer in 1988, according to CENTCOM. A West Point graduate, Kurilla was deployed to Panama in 1989, the Gulf War in 1990, and to Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s. He has been awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with valor in 2005 for leading U.S. troops in Iraq. Kurilla was nominated to lead CENTCOM under President Joe Biden in 2022, after previously commanding the 82nd Airborne Division and serving as CENTCOM's chief of staff.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The ‘jacked gorilla' general pushing Trump to strike Iran
'Shots fired!' shouted Gen Michael Kurilla moments before charging towards the sound of gunfire to save two junior officers. Weaving through the rubble-strewn alleyways of war-torn Mosul, Iraq, the then-lieutenant colonel was pursuing a group of terrorist suspects when three more shots rang out. Taking bullets to the arm and both legs, one snapping his femur in half, he 'performed a judo roll' and carried on firing his rifle, witnesses say. As the gunfire continued, he covered his troops and reeled off orders while bleeding on the concrete floor. Nearly 20 years later, Gen Kurilla, who was awarded a Bronze Star for valour and now heads the US military Central Command (Centcom), is once again leading the fight in the Middle East – this time against Iran. Known to be Israel's favourite general and nicknamed 'The Gorilla', Gen Kurilla is understood to have been given unusual levels of authority by Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, to determine the American response to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. The 59-year-old has apparently overruled other top Pentagon officials in managing the crisis and has had nearly all his requests approved for more weapons and air defences for the region, multiple sources told Politico and Axios. More than six feet tall, the 'jacked' (muscular) general certainly looks the part and is known for his abrasive approach. He was investigated by the army last year for allegedly shoving a military crew member, although the outcome is not clear. According to one former official, his tough-guy persona and commanding physical presence give Gen Kurilla powerful influence over the US defence secretary. 'He's a big dude, he's jacked, he's exactly this 'lethality' look [Donald Trump and Mr Hegseth are] going for,' the ex-official told Politico. 'If the senior military guys come across as tough and war fighters, Hegseth is easily persuaded to their point of view.' The general is said to have had more face time with the US president than most other generals, according to Politico. Where Gen Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon policy chief, have repeatedly urged against overcommitting to the Middle East, Gen Kurilla is said to be pushing for a strong military response to Iran. As the department of defence (DoD) moves aircraft carriers and a large formation of refuelling planes to the region and the president mulls over a direct military strike on Iran, there is speculation that Gen Kurilla is pulling the strings behind the scenes. 'Hegseth has sided with him time and again,' a diplomat told the website. Hailed by Israeli news outlet Ynet as 'the US general Israel doesn't want to strike Iran without', Gen Kurilla is a long-time Iran hawk who is expected to retire from the military this summer. A veteran of Panama, the Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gen Kurilla is seen as 'one of Israel's staunchest allies in the American defence establishment', according to Ynet, and has travelled to the country dozens of times since he first visited as a young officer in his 20s. 'He knows the type of every munition launched at Israel that night, and where each interceptor was positioned,' an Israeli official told the news outlet last year. 'Wake him in the middle of the night, and he'd ace a pop quiz better than some of our own officers.' According to The New York Times, the general had been open to US involvement in an Israeli strike plan to attack Iran earlier this spring, combining a bombing campaign with commando raids on nuclear sites, but was blocked by Mr Trump, who favoured a diplomatic approach. 'He has been pushing for war with Iran and away from diplomacy since before Trump took office in ways that run over civilian officials,' Justin Logan, director of foreign policy and defence studies at the Cato Institute, told Responsible Statecraft. Since taking over as head of Centcom in 2022, Gen Kurilla has pursued a strategy of military integration with Israel and regional partners to deter Iranian aggression, known as 'Kurilla's umbrella'. The system has enabled US radar systems in the UAE and Qatar to aid Israeli defence and has included co-operation with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, according to Ynet. Explaining his approach to a US House congressional committee in March, Gen Kurilla said that Iran had taken a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the region to its advantage', which could be halted by a 'deep partnership' between Israel, the US and the Gulf States. He is also thought to have played an instrumental role in pushing for sustained attacks on Houthi Rebels in Yemen in March, according to the New York Times, details of which were later made public in the infamous Signal group chat leak. The 30-day operation cost more than $1 billion and was widely viewed as an ineffective use of resources, yet it enabled Mr Trump to strike a deal to end the fighting. Deployed to Israel in April, Gen Kurilla is said to have passed on the news to government officials there that the US would not endorse strikes on Iran to curb its uranium enrichment programme. He also is said to have released a statement in which he reiterated the two nations' 'ironclad military-to-military relationship', The Jerusalem Post reported. Gen Kurilla may have also played a decisive role in determining Israel's decision to pull the trigger on operation 'Rising Lion' last Friday, when it launched a devastating series of precision air strikes on Iranian military sites and personnel. Although Israel acquiesced to Mr Trump's demands in April to hold off attacking Iran, military sources told The Jerusalem Post at the time that they hoped to strike before Gen Kurilla stepped down in July, recognising him as a key ally. 'I think it's been reported, and you know, based on my experience with him, that he takes a fundamentally different view of the importance of the Middle East than a lot of other people in the administration,' Dan Caldwell, former adviser to Mr Hegseth, told the Breaking Points podcast on Monday. He added: 'And he also, I think, believes that a military campaign against Iran will not be as costly as others.' With time running out before Iran produces an atomic bomb and with Gen Kurilla's retirement looming, it may well be that Israel saw its window of opportunity closing. Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said: 'Secretary Hegseth empowers all of his combatant commanders the same way – by decentralising command and harnessing their real-world expertise regarding the defence of their respective areas of responsibility. 'The entire DoD leadership team – from the chairman of the joint chiefs to the undersecretary of defence for policy – similarly provide courses of action and counsel to the secretary based on their expertise. The secretary then makes a decision and final recommendation to the president. This is how the Pentagon does, and should, function. Our senior leaders are in lockstep and will continue to work in unison to deliver on President Trump's national security agenda.'
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
The ‘jacked gorilla' general drawing up Trump's attack plans
'Shots fired!' yelled Gen Michael Kurilla moments before charging towards the sound of gunfire to save two junior officers. Weaving through the rubble-strewn alleyways of war-torn Mosul, Iraq, the then-lieutenant colonel was pursuing a group of terrorist suspects when three more shots rang out. Taking bullets to the arm and both legs, one snapping his femur in half, he 'performed a judo roll' and carried on firing his rifle, witnesses say. As the gunfire continued, he covered his troops and reeled off orders while bleeding on the concrete floor. Nearly 20 years later, Gen Kurilla, who was awarded a Bronze Star for valour and now heads the US military Central Command (Centcom), is once again leading the fight in the Middle East – this time against Iran. Known to be Israel's favourite general and nicknamed 'The Gorilla', Gen Kurilla is understood to have been given unusual levels of authority by Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, to determine the American response to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. The 59 year-old has apparently overruled other top Pentagon officials in managing the crisis and has had nearly all his requests approved for more weapons and air defences for the region, multiple sources told Politico and Axios. More than six feet tall, the 'jacked' (muscular) general certainly looks the part and is known for his abrasive approach. He was investigated by the army last year for allegedly shoving a military crew member, although the outcome is not clear. According to one former official, his tough-guy persona and commanding physical presence give Gen Kurilla powerful influence over the US defence secretary. 'He's a big dude, he's jacked, he's exactly this 'lethality' look [Donald Trump and Mr Hegseth are] going for,' the ex-official told Politico. 'If the senior military guys come across as tough and war fighters, Hegseth is easily persuaded to their point of view.' The general is said to have had more face time with the US president than most other generals, according to Politico. Where Gen Dan Caine, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon policy chief, have repeatedly urged against overcommitting to the Middle East, Gen Kurilla is said to be pushing for a strong military response to Iran. As the department of defence moves aircraft carriers and a large formation of refuelling planes to the region and the president mulls a direct military strike on Iran, there is speculation that Gen Kurilla is pulling the strings behind the scenes. 'Hegseth has sided with him time and again,' a diplomat told the website. Hailed by Israeli news outlet Ynet as 'the US general Israel doesn't want to strike Iran without', Gen Kurilla is a long-time Iran hawk who is expected to retire from the military this summer. A veteran of Panama, the Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Gen Kurilla is seen as 'one of Israel's staunchest allies in the American defence establishment', according to Ynet, and has travelled to the country dozens of times since he first visited as a young officer in his 20s. 'He knows the type of every munition launched at Israel that night, and where each interceptor was positioned,' an Israeli official told the news outlet last year. 'Wake him in the middle of the night, and he'd ace a pop quiz better than some of our own officers.' According to The New York Times, the general had been open to US involvement in an Israeli strike plan to attack Iran earlier this spring, combining a bombing campaign with commando raids on nuclear sites, but was blocked by Mr Trump, who favoured a diplomatic approach. 'He has been pushing for war with Iran and away from diplomacy since before Trump took office in ways that run over civilian officials,' Justin Logan, director of foreign policy and defence studies at the Cato Institute, told Responsible Statercraft. Since taking over as head of Centcom in 2022, Gen Kurilla has pursued a strategy of military integration with Israel and regional partners to deter Iranian aggression, known as 'Kurilla's umbrella'. The system has enabled US radar systems in the UAE and Qatar to aid Israeli defence and has included co-operation with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, according to Ynet. Explaining his approach to a US House congressional committee in March, Gen Kurilla said that Iran had taken a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the region to its advantage' which could be halted by a 'deep partnership' between Israel, the US and the Gulf States. He is also thought to have played an instrumental role in pushing for sustained attacks on Houthi Rebels in Yemen in March, according to the New York Times, details of which were later made public in the infamous Signal group chat leak. The 30-day operation cost more than $1 billion and was widely viewed as an ineffective use of resources, yet it enabled Mr Trump to strike a deal to end the fighting. Deployed to Israel in April, Gen Kurilla is said to have passed on the news to government officials there that the US would not endorse strikes on Iran to curb its uranium enrichment programme. He also is said to have released a statement in which he reiterated the two nations' 'ironclad military-to-military relationship', The Jerusalem Post reported. Gen Kurilla may have also played a decisive role in determining Israel's decision to pull the trigger on operation 'Rising Lion' last Friday, when it launched a devastating series of precision air strikes on Iranian military sites and personnel. Although Israel acquiesced to Mr Trump's demands in April to hold off attacking Iran, military sources told The Jerusalem Post at the time that they hoped to strike before Gen Kurilla stepped down in July, recognising him as a key ally. 'I think it's been reported, and you know, based on my experience with him, that he takes a fundamentally different view of the importance of the Middle East than a lot of other people in the administration,' Dan Caldwell, former adviser to Mr Hegseth, told the Breaking Points podcast on Monday. He added: 'And he also, I think, believes that a military campaign against Iran will not be as costly as others.' With time running out before Iran produces an atomic bomb and with Gen Kurilla's retirement looming, it may well be that Israel saw its window of opportunity closing.
