Meet the General behind the US plan to attack Iran: General Michael Kurilla
The US President Donald Trump has initially approved a military plan targeting strategic sites in Iran, with a two-week grace period to allow for diplomatic action, according to a recent White House confirmation.
These developments come amid the ongoing military escalation between Iran and Israel, which has entered its eighth day.
General Michael Kurilla is at the heart of the US military strategy towards Iran.
General Michael Eric Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, has emerged as one of the most prominent figures influencing the US military approach to Iran.
Known in military circles as “the Gorilla,” Kurilla is said to play a pivotal role in formulating US plans to strike Iranian nuclear facilities using bunker-buster weapons capable of destroying underground sites.
Kurilla has received the green light to formulate alternative attack plans, despite warnings from some US administration officials about slipping into a wider conflict in the Middle East.
It’s noteworthy that Kurilla has outperformed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at this stage, after the White House approved a set of his proposals to bolster the US military presence in the region.
Despite rumors of internal disagreements, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that all military commanders have equal authority under the principle of decentralization, emphasizing that the command relies on field experience in making its decisions.
Kurilla’s expected retirement… will it accelerate the military resolution?
Kurilla is expected to complete his duties at Central Command in July 2025, leading some observers to believe he has become more aggressive in his military decisions ahead of his impending retirement.
Kurilla played a key role in coordinating the US response to Houthi attacks, in addition to overseeing US operations in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and, most recently, Germany during the Russia-Ukraine war.
Dan Caldwell, a former advisor to the Secretary of Defense, said that Kurilla takes a different view of the importance of the Middle East, and believes that confrontation with Iran may be less costly than other wars Washington has fought.
He added, “I believe the timing of the mounting pressure for military action is no coincidence, especially with Kurilla’s retirement approaching in mid-July”.
In contrast, the White House announced that President Trump would decide his position on Iran within two weeks, preferring to give diplomacy a final chance.
The US administration is currently focusing on the Iranian nuclear program, demanding that Tehran halt uranium enrichment as a first step toward de-escalation.
