region. for example, iran has the largest ballistic missile force in the middle east. the islamic revolutionary guard corps poses a risk to u.s. naval and allied naval operations in the persian gulf. and lebanese hezbollah with the support of iran has deployed thousands of fighters to syria and provide direction to other militant and terrorist groups all fomenting regional instability. iran's provocative and assertive behavior as we saw most recently this past weekend in northern israel increases the potential for escalation. turkey will seek to thwart kurdish ambitions in the middle east and the ongoing turkish incursion into northern syria is complicating ongoing counterisis activities in the region and increases the risk to u.s. forces located in the area. syria will face unrest and