House lawmakers to receive classified briefing on Iran after attacks on US troops in Middle East

An Iraqi boy carries a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest in Baghdad, October 20, 2023, to express their support of the Palestinian people amid the ongoing battles between Israel and Palestinian groups. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)

House lawmakers will receive a classified briefing on Iran Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. ET after senior defense officials reported a "significant escalation" of attacks against U.S. troops in the Middle East.

These attacks have "Iranian fingerprints all over" them, according to a senior U.S. defense official and senior U.S. military official who spoke on a background briefing with reporters on Monday. Both officials suggested attacks will likely increase on U.S. troops over the coming days.

The defense official reiterated that Iran is funding, equipping, guiding and directing partners and proxies across the Middle East, including Lebanese Hezbollah militia groups in Iran, Syria and Yemen.

"I think it’s fair to say when you see this uptick in activity in attacks by many of these groups, there’s Iranian fingerprints all over it," the defense official said. 

The senior defense official also reflected on the objectives set forth when the Department of Defense got involved. First, it was supporting Israel with expediting security assistance, then to help contain the conflict to Gaza while deterring groups from stepping onto the stage and expanding the conflict beyond Gaza.

The third reason was to protect U.S. forces and personnel and focus on hostage recovery.

But Iran and other forces have sought ways to escalate the conflict by targeting U.S. forces with drones and rockets.

U.S. troops are in Iraq and Syria to support local partners to achieve the defeat of ISIS, the senior defense official said. So, when the efforts continue to increase, Iran is giving space for ISIS to "reconstitute" and destabilize the region, the official added.