US on Iran: Not Pete Hegseth, 'Gorilla' Erik Kurilla is calling the shots on Middle East crisis

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken a backseat and US Central Command chief General Erik Kurilla, an Iran Hawk who is nicknamed as "The Gorilla" is calling the shots on the Iran-Israel war, overruling all other top Pentagon officials, according to reports.

Insiders said all his requests, ranging from more aircraft carriers to fighter planes in the region, have been approved. A former official told POLITICO that Hegseth gets easily swayed when a tough warfighter comes in the scene and Kurilla has been very good at getting what he wants. He is also not scared of pushing the president as his tenure is nearing an end. The Pentagon sent a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East this week and deployed F-22, F-35 and F-16 fighter planes.

Kurilla, testifying on Capitol Hill last week, said he had prepared a “wide range of options” for Hegseth and President Donald Trump to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.Kurilla is known to be especially close to Israel, Israel's military and intelligence officials. Insiders think he had a clear idea about what the military was up to before anyone in the administration got to know anything about it. Kurilla is currently serving as the 15th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) since April 1, 2022.

Originally from Elk River, Minnesota, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1988 with a degree in aerospace engineering and was commissioned as an infantry officer. Kurilla has an extensive military career, having participated in operations such as the U.S. invasion of Panama, the Gulf War, and deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Last year, Kurilla was under investigation for allegedly shoving a subordinate service member during a trip to the Middle East. In the past few weeks, Kurilla fought with the other Pentagon officers, including chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby who did not want to overcommit to the Middle East.