On the morning U.S. forces launched strikes inside Iran alongside Israel, it’s believed that up to 200 Minnesota airmen and soldiers are deployed to the broader Middle East region.
The United States and Israel carried out a large-scale strike on Iran early Saturday. In response, President Donald Trump urged Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” and rise up against the Islamic regime that has governed the country since 1979. Iran answered with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. military bases across the region.
According to a report by WCCO-TV last week, more than 200 Minnesota National Guard members are deployed in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.
The command area spans 21 countries that include the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia and Northeast Africa.
WCCO said Minnesotans deployed to the command area include members of Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing, the Marshall-based 1-151 Artillery and the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company.
Although specific missions and locations are not public, WCCO said Duluth citizen soldiers are “in the region to protect American airpower, defend regional allies and support coalition forces, and is focused on preserving peace and security throughout the region.”
The Stillwater group was deployed to the Middle East in January, WCCO said, noting the unit will “support customs operations across the region as part of Operation Spartan Shield.”
The Marshall group will “provide timely and accurate artillery fires in support of ground units operating in the U.S. Central Command area,” according to the WCCO report, which noted that the deployments were regularly scheduled ones but “they know that at any time, they could be called into action.”
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