The United States will boost its military presence in the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Friday, deploying additional warships and fighter jets to protect American personnel and defend Israel amid rising tensions in the region.
The announcement comes after Iran and its regional allies vowed to avenge the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Beirut, raising fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
“The Department of Defense is taking steps to mitigate the potential for Iran or Iran’s allies and proxies to escalate regional tensions,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement.
“Since Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel on October 7, the Secretary of Defense has reiterated that the United States will defend its personnel and interests in the region, including our steadfast commitment to the defense of Israel.”
Singh said the aircraft carrier strike group led by USS Abraham Lincoln will replace the group led by USS Theodore Roosevelt in the region.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East and regions under U.S. European Command, as well as a new fighter squadron to the Middle East.
Israel on Tuesday killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, a move it described as a response to last week’s deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights.
Just hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the Iranian capital – an attack on which Israel has yet to comment.
Iranian officials met in Tehran on Wednesday with representatives of the so-called “axis of resistance”, a loose coalition of anti-Israel groups backed by Tehran, to discuss their next steps, a source close to Hezbollah told AFP.
“Two scenarios were discussed: a simultaneous response from Iran and its allies or a separate response from each side,” said a source with knowledge of the meeting who requested anonymity.
In April, Iran launched its first direct attack on Israeli soil, launching a barrage of drones and missiles after Revolutionary Guards were killed in an attack on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus.
The US military helped save Israel from this attack.
“As we have demonstrated since October and again in April, the United States’ global defense is dynamic and the Department of Defense has the capability to deploy on short notice to address emerging national security threats,” Singh said.
“The United States also remains focused on de-escalating tensions in the region and pushing for a ceasefire under the hostage agreement to bring the hostages home and end the war in Gaza.”
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