The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Friday that it would be relocating a squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East and keeping an aircraft carrier in the area. This move aligns with President Joe Biden’s commitment to strengthening American military support to protect Israel from potential threats by Iran and its allies, as well as to safeguard U.S. forces.
In the announcement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed plans to deploy additional missile defense-equipped cruisers and destroyers to Europe and the Middle East. Moreover, more land-based ballistic missile defense systems are set to be sent to these regions.
These strategic moves follow concerns among U.S. officials about increasing violence in the Middle East. The recent Israeli attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah leaders have led to retaliatory threats, prompting the U.S. to act.
On Thursday afternoon, President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the new U.S. military deployments aimed at defending against possible ballistic missile and drone attacks, according to the White House. This April, U.S. forces successfully intercepted numerous missiles and drones fired by Iran towards Israel, managing to neutralize almost all of them.
The recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur in Beirut have escalated tensions, risking a broader regional conflict. Iran has threatened to retaliate after the attack on its soil, and Israel has pledged to continue targeting Hamas leaders following the group’s attack on October 7, which initiated the conflict.
Secretary Austin has directed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to move to the Middle East, replacing the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, which is currently in the Gulf of Oman but scheduled to return home later this summer. This indicates the Pentagon’s strategy to maintain a consistent carrier presence in the region as a deterrent against Iran, at least through the next year.
Details about the origin and exact location of the fighter jet squadron in the Middle East were not disclosed. While regional allies often host U.S. military forces, they usually prefer these arrangements to remain confidential.
A statement from the White House confirmed that President Biden “reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.”
Earlier on Friday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh informed reporters about the ongoing plans. She stated that Austin “will be directing multiple” force movements to bolster Israel’s defenses and enhance protection for U.S. troops in the area.
Military and defense officials are considering a variety of options, ranging from additional ships and fighter jet squadrons to enhanced air defense systems or unmanned assets. Often, specific details are withheld to respect the sensitivities of host nations regarding the presence of U.S. forces.
The specifics of the new ships that will be deployed to the Middle East remain unclear.
The U.S. has consistently maintained a naval presence in the region and the eastern Mediterranean, including two Navy destroyers, the USS Roosevelt and the USS Bulkeley, along with the USS Wasp and the USS New York. The Wasp and New York are part of an amphibious ready group and transport a Marine expeditionary unit, which could be utilized for evacuating U.S. personnel if necessary.
Additionally, a U.S. official stated that two Navy destroyers currently in the Middle East would be moving north through the Red Sea towards the Mediterranean. One of these ships might stay in the Mediterranean if required. The official provided this information under anonymity to discuss troop movements.
{Matzav.com}