US commander warns troops over social media posts
The top US military commander overseeing American forces in the Middle East has warned troops that photos and videos shared on social media could help Iran quickly assess the damage caused by attacks on US bases.
According to Reuters, US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper made the warning in a July 28 letter to service members. He said Iran was using media reports, along with images and videos posted by US troops, to determine whether its attacks had succeeded or failed.
Cooper urged military personnel to follow operational security rules more strictly, although he did not outline any specific measures in the letter.
Reuters reported that some US troops stationed in Jordan have been told that authorities could take away their mobile phones in the coming days. Another source said officials were also considering similar measures elsewhere in the region, although no final decision has been made.
US Central Command spokesman Captain Timothy Hawkins said the message aimed to remind troops about the importance of operational security.
The warning followed the appearance of a video on social media earlier this month that showed a US service member recording himself while heading toward a bunker during an Iranian attack on Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
Cooper said the soldier recorded the video using Meta smart glasses, potentially giving Iran information about the troops’ location and their response to the attack.
He said that without publicly available images, videos and reports, Iran would have a harder time determining whether its strikes hit their intended targets. However, such material can effectively provide Iran with a free assessment of battlefield damage.
According to Reuters, 18 US service members have been killed and more than 600 injured since the conflict with Iran began on February 28. The US Department of Defense has limited the release of information about the attacks and military casualties due to security concerns.
