Pentagon: No Sign Iran Directly Involved In Attacks On US Troops

Wires carrying comments from the Pentagon stating that the, "US has not seen a direct order from Iran for its proxies to increase attacks against US troops in the middle east."

• The Department of Defense comments come in the wake an uptick in violent attacks on US troops stationed in the Middle East.
• Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told ABC yesterday: What we’re seeing is a prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops and our people throughout the region. And because of that, we’re going to do what’s necessary to make sure that our troops are in that position and they were protected and that we have the ability to respond.”
• Despite public statements from the White House and Pentagon suggesting that Iran isn't directly implicated in the Hamas attack on Israel, as expansion of the conflict to include Iran-backed militants in Syria or Lebanon remains a concern for US and Israeli military strategists.
• FT reports: "Militants attacked two military bases housing American troops in Iraq last week. The US has about 2,500 troops in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militants have evolved into the dominant military and political force, and about 900 in Syria, which is also home to Shia militias supported by Iran."