US deploying more troops to region as Israel-Hezbollah conflict ramps up
Biden says he’s trying to deescalate tensions; Pentagon official warns Mideast in ‘dangerous situation’ but widened conflict not a given, as USS Truman heads back to Mediterranean
The US is sending a small number of additional troops to the Middle East in response to a sharp spike in violence between Israel and Lebanese terror group Hezbollah that has raised the risk of a greater regional war, the Pentagon said Monday.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would provide no details on how many additional forces or what they would be tasked to do. The US currently has about 40,000 troops in the region.
“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters.
On Monday, the aircraft carrier USS Truman, two destroyers, and a cruiser set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, headed to the Mediterranean on a regularly scheduled deployment, opening the possibility that the US could keep both the Truman and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is in the Gulf of Oman, nearby in case further violence breaks out.
The announcement came after cross-border violence intensified Monday, with Israel carrying out strikes on some 1,300 targets across Lebanon according to Israel Defense Forces, and warning civilians to flee residential neighborhoods where Hezbollah is thought to have placed weapons and personnel.
Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Iranian proxy with a powerful armed wing, has fired hundreds of rockets at Israel in recent days, including deep into the country, raising the specter of all-out war that could leave Lebanon in ruins and devastate parts of Israel.
At the White House, US President Joe Biden said Lebanon and Gaza would feature prominently in his discussions with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Before their meeting, Biden said he had been briefed on latest developments between Israel and Lebanon, adding, “I continue to be in contact with our counterparts and we’re working to deescalate in a way that allows people to return home safely.”
Sheikh Mohamed said his country had an “unwavering commitment” to working with the United States and deepening the strategic partnership between the allies.
Vice President Kamala Harris is also slated to discuss efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal in a separate meeting with the UAE leader, who is in the US for the United Nations General Assembly high-level summit this week.
Hezbollah began shooting rockets at Israel on October 8, saying it was doing so in support of Hamas following the Gaza-based terror group’s onslaught in southern Israel a day earlier. It has said it will only stop firing once a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
Tensions have ratcheted up significantly in recent days, with the IDF shifting its attention to the northern border where Hezbollah has carried out attacks on Israel for nearly a year. In recent days, the IDF has carried out a series of strikes targeting some of the Iran-backed terror group’s top leadership, including a bombing in Beirut on Monday aimed at Ali Karaki, thought to be one of Hezbollah’s top surviving officials.
“Given the tensions, given the escalation, as I highlighted, there is the potential for a wider regional conflict. I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s a dangerous situation,” Ryder said.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held back-to-back calls with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the weekend as he pressed for a ceasefire and a reduction of tensions in the region, Ryder said. The Biden administration has repeatedly called for the Israel-Hezbollah border crisis to be resolved through diplomacy.
The spokesman declined to say if the additional forces being deployed might support the evacuation of US citizens, after the State Department warned Americans Saturday to leave Lebanon due to the mounting conflict.
The US presence in the Middle East is designed both to help defend Israel and protect US and allied personnel and assets. Navy warships are scattered across the region, from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Oman, and both Air Force and Navy fighter jets are strategically based at several locations to be better prepared to respond to any attacks.
“We have more capability in the region today than we did on April 14th when Iran conducted its drone and missile attack against Israel,” Ryder said, referring to an Iranian attack on Israel using hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, most of which were shot down by Israel and allies, including the US.
“So all of those forces combined provide us with the options to be able to protect our forces should they be attacked,” he said.
