There has been an increase in Iranian activity in Afghanistan that poses a risk to American and coalition troops in the country, a top US commander has said.
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of US Central Command, made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan this week. He told reporters traveling with him that he is seeing a “worrisome trend,” of Iranian malign interference.
“Iran has always sort of dabbled a little bit in Afghanistan, but they see perhaps an opportunity to get after us and the coalition here through their proxies,” McKenzie said as quoted by the Associated Press. “So, we are very concerned about that here as we go forward.”
The general’s warnings come weeks after Iran attacked a US base in Iraq with missiles in retaliation after top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad.
Iran has already recruited Afghans to fight in Syria war. It is also accused of providing support to the Taliban.
McKenzie, who left Afghanistan Friday after a three-day visit, said the coalition is working with the Afghan government to monitor the situation and prevent any problems.
McKenzie met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday to discuss recent security developments in the region, bilateral security cooperation, enduring US commitments to Afghanistan particularly on security and defense, according to a statement issued by the president’s office.
