The U.S. has dispatched hostage rescue experts to assist the Israel Defense Forces following the kidnapping of 150 hostages, potentially including Americans, by Hamas in southern Israel. Concurrently, U.S. special operations forces are on standby in a nearby European country, poised for intervention if ordered, though there’s currently no sign of direct U.S. involvement on the ground in Israel.
Key Points:
- The Israel Defense Forces are seeking to rescue 150 hostages, some of whom might be Americans, taken by Hamas after a violent assault in southern Israel.
- U.S. special operations forces, referred to as “door kickers” and potentially including members of Delta Force or SEAL Team Six, are on alert in a European country, ready to aid in the rescue operation if necessary.
- The White House confirmed that 11 Americans have been killed in Israel, with several still missing. Relatives of four Americans believe their family members were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip.
- Hamas has threatened to execute the hostages in response to Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip after a brutal Hamas attack killed over 1,000 Israelis.
- In a show of support and deterrence, the U.S. has sent the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, along with five guided-missile cruisers and destroyers, to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea off the Israeli coast. The deployment is meant to deter actors like Iran or Hezbollah from exploiting the conflict.
Source: https://themessenger.com/news/us-sends-special-operations-israel-hostage-rescue
