Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent is renewing his call for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the Middle East, citing recent casualties and advocating for a strategic shift to prevent further conflict.
Kent made his remarks on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, shortly after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the passing of two U.S. service members and the missing status of another in Jordan following an Iranian attack on July 17. Unidentified remains were found at the location, and an examination process is underway. Separately, a U.S. service member was killed in action in northern Iraq on July 18 during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. A second service member sustained a minor injury.
"Get our troops out now before we suffer a mass casualty attack. Break the escalation trap," Kent wrote. He asserted that former President Donald Trump still possesses the political strength to "declare victory" and that this ability will be lost if more casualties occur. "Now is the time to leave, immediately," he added.
Kent, who resigned from his counterterrorism post earlier this year, has consistently opposed the current military engagement in the region. In his resignation letter, he stated that Iran posed no imminent threat and that the war was initiated due to pressure from Israel and its American lobby.
In a post on Saturday, Kent outlined a strategy for ending the conflict on U.S. terms. "Deprive Iran of military targets to strike by removing our troops, bases, & naval forces from the area," he wrote. He described the regional bases as "liabilities & relics of the past," arguing that abandoning them is not a retreat but a "strategic adaptation to modern warfare." According to Kent, this move would remove Iran's primary justification for disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and attacking its neighbors. He proposed offering sanctions relief in exchange for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM's announcement detailed ongoing strikes against Iran, noting the ninth consecutive night of operations. The command also confirmed that U.S. military personnel found unidentified remains following an Iranian attack in Jordan. An examination process to verify these remains is currently in progress.
Kent's position emphasizes ending military involvement to de-escalate tensions and avoid further loss of life. He argues that withdrawing forces would strategically reposition the U.S. and potentially resolve the justification Iran uses for regional destabilization and attacks on maritime traffic.