No activation of Hawai‘i National Guard planned — for now — amid conflict in Iran

Hawaiʻi National Guard said earlier this week that — for now — it does not plan any activation or local deployment of troops following the U.S. attacks on Iran as part of a joint military operation with Israel that is now nearly a week old.

“We are standing by and are in constant communication with Gov. [Josh] Green,” according to an emailed statement from Hawai‘i National Guard.

Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, elevated its security level to BRAVO following the commencement of hostilities with the Middle Eastern nation.

“This increased security measure follows a global trend of preparedness and does not reflect any direct threat or immediate danger to [Pacific Missile Range Facility] or the Hawaiian Islands,” said the U.S. Navy installation in a Feb. 28 Facebook post. “As always, adhere to directions given by security personnel.”

All personnel should also be prepared for potential delays and increased traffic when transiting on and off base.

No additional training is taking place at Pōhakuloa Training Area either, but the Big Island U.S. Army also elevated its security level to BRAVO.

The attacks on Iran were launched Feb. 28.

Less than 2 hours later, Iran launched a counter-attack on Israel, and within 30 minutes retaliated by firing missiles at U.S. bases throughout the region in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, sending ripples throughout the Middle East, according to the Associated Press.

President Donald Trump announced that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. However, on Monday, the Associated Press reported the intensity of attacks and “lack of any apparent exit plan” set the stage for a prolonged conflict with far-reaching consequences.

Trump said Monday that the operation would likely take several weeks.

During the weekend, Hawai‘i’s Congressional delegation spoke out against the military action.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Monday spoke on the Senate floor against Trump’s “war of choice” against Iran. The Hawai‘i Democrat voiced his support for a War Powers Resolution to block U.S. military action in Iran and highlighted the president’s failure to explain to the public why military action was necessary.

“This is a war of choice. It did not have to happen,” said Schatz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “There was no imminent threat from Iran. The indications right up until the attacks were that negotiations were actually trending well.

“And remember that if Donald Trump hadn’t pulled out of the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. also known as the Iran nuclear deal] to begin with, Iran’s nuclear program would have continued to be managed. This is the president of the United States asserting that he can do whatever he wants, wherever he wants, with the most powerful military in history at his disposal.”