No direct Iran order for proxies to attack US troops, Pentagon says
The United States has not seen a direct order from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to attack U.S. troops in the region, the Pentagon said on Monday following a rise in attacks in Iraq and Syria by suspected Iran-backed groups. U.S. forces have been repeatedly targeted by missiles and drones since the Israel-Gaza conflict began on Oct. 7 with Palestinian Hamas militants attacking southern Israel.