In this instance, would US forces in theater be able to surveil(?) cell/satellite communications specific to the situation at hand, or would all communications in that area have to be intercepted and routed to the US to be electronically searched for the information needed, thereby transiting a US switch?
Not being a wise@$$, just seeking info.
Technically, no. You ask the Kuwaiti and Egyptian companies to install the proper gear. Having gained that cooperation there is no need to route it to the U.S. And if you DID choose to route it, you's still need that same cooperation. There's no avoiding it.
Again the story makes no sense. Three Middle Eastern cellphone companies/carriers (now two due to consolidation), handling calls inside Iraq. There is no plausible reason why these calls would be "routed" to any U.S. domestic entity or domestic gear.