Extra US fighter jets moved to region before Iran attack sticking around — Pentagon

The Pentagon says additional fighter squadrons moved into the Middle East before the weekend are remaining there.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, says Air Force fighter jet squadrons in the region as well as Navy ships in the Mediterranean Sea participated in the effort to take out Iranian missiles and drones early Sunday.

The USS Carney and the USS Arleigh Burke, both Navy destroyers, shot down missiles from the sea.

Asked about IDF chief Herzi Halevi’s promise that the Iranian strike “will be met with a response,” Ryder says any response is up to Israel to decide.

“We don’t want to see escalation, but we obviously will take necessary measures to protect our forces in the region,” he says, adding that the US will also “take necessary measures to protect Israel.”

Pressed on whether such a response would be counterproductive to stability in the region, he says the US will “stay in close consultation with our Israeli partners, as we have done throughout the weekend. Again, we don’t seek wider regional conflict.”