The U.S. Department of Defense announced the deployment of additional military capabilities to the Middle East to bolster force protection for U.S. troops and to defend Israel. The move, detailed by Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, is in response to escalating threats from Iran and Iranian-backed militias following the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The deployment includes a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron, and additional warships. The aim is to deter potential Iranian retaliation and to support Israel, which is on high alert for possible attacks. The U.S. decision follows discussions between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as subsequent conversations between Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
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4 of 11 carriers now deployed in Mideast––largest in history.• USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)
• USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
• USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
• USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) pic.twitter.com/DWZUVp9r5P— Josh Wolfe (@wolfejosh) August 5, 2024
The new deployment is one of the largest movements of U.S. forces to the region since the onset of the Gaza war. John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, emphasized the necessity of this deployment, citing threats from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who vowed harsh punishment for the assassination of Haniyeh. The Pentagon’s enhanced readiness includes missile defense forces and the deployment of ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea.
The U.S. military presence aims to serve as a deterrent and to reassure allies in the region. Singh stated that the U.S. retains the capability to deploy on short notice to meet evolving national security threats. Israel has heightened its readiness, with citizens stocking up on supplies and airlines suspending flights to Beirut.Â
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