Former CENTCOM Commander's Deep Intel on Ending the Iran War : Ward Carroll

[mat200]

This is actually a very good interview and very useful to understand the USA vs Iran situation.

Highly recommended watch / listen
( iirc I posted this in the Is Iran Toast thread also .. )


Former CENTCOM Commander's Deep Intel on Ending the Iran War
Ward Carroll

Apr 8, 2026
Retired U.S. Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, who was in charge of Central Command from 2019 until 2022, details his experiences in dealing with the Iranian threat and his recommendations for ending Operation Epic Fury.

General McKenzie details how he oversaw the raid in Syria that resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the armed drone strike that killed Iranian Republican Guard General Qassim Soleimani and what those actions did - both intended and unintended - throughout the Middle East and eventually led to Operation Epic Fury.



This video features an in-depth interview with retired U.S. Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, who served as the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from 2019 to 2022. He provides historical context on tensions with Iran and discusses his recent book, The Melting Point.

Key Topics Covered:​

• 2019 Tensions with Iran: General McKenzie details the maximum pressure campaign and the escalation that followed the downing of a U.S. RQ-4 drone (2:06 - 7:11). He explains the decision-making process behind the potential strikes that were ultimately called off by the president.
• The Raid on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: A detailed account of the October 2019 mission to capture or kill the ISIS leader in western Syria (8:12 - 19:32). McKenzie emphasizes the importance of avoiding civilian casualties (specifically children) and the necessity of obtaining DNA evidence, which led to the selection of a high-risk special operations raid over an airstrike.
• The Strike on Qassim Soleimani: An explanation of the strategic reasoning behind the January 2020 strike in Baghdad (22:22 - 29:16). McKenzie describes Soleimani as a central figure in Iranian regional aggression and explains how his removal disrupted Iranian command and control.
• Operation Epic Fury and Current Strategy: The discussion touches on the ongoing Operation Epic Fury (33:42 - 45:30), where McKenzie analyzes the military campaign, the role of Israel, and the importance of securing the Strait of Hormuz. He discusses the strategic value of potential locations like Carg Island for future negotiations.

Throughout the conversation, McKenzie reflects on the challenges of theater command, the nature of Sunni-Shia dynamics in the region, and the evolution of military tactics over the last several years.