The US will send thousands more troops to the Middle East, the Pentagon announced on Monday, as Israel launches a “ground raid” into Lebanon targeting Hezbollah terrorists.
of “Thousands” The additional troops will bring the total number of U.S. troops stationed at bases in Iraq, Syria, Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries to about 43,000.
The Pentagon has not said exactly how many troops it will send, but one official said: new york times Up to 3,000 military personnel will be deployed to the region.
Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters on Monday that the increase “further strengthens the defense posture of U.S. forces in the Middle East to deter aggression and reduce the risk of broader regional war.” He said it was part of a Department of Defense effort.
“This includes an expansion of a certain number of forces already deployed in the Middle East region, and the forces scheduled to be brought into theater to replace them will instead be replaced by troops already deployed in the region. “This will strengthen the existing forces,” a Pentagon spokesperson said. .
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to remain in the area, along with increased troop strength.
Additional defense air support capabilities will also be dispatched, including F-16, F-15e, A-10 and F-22 fighter jets, Singh said.
“The Secretary also strengthened readiness for the deployment of additional U.S. troops and increased readiness to respond to a variety of contingencies. “We will ensure the protection of U.S. forces operating in the United States,” she said. Added.
The Pentagon's announcement came before the Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had launched a widely expected ground invasion of Lebanon.
“Following the decision of the political hierarchy, several hours ago, the IDF launched a limited, localized and targeted ground raid based on accurate intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,” the IDF said. said in a statement. “These targets are located in villages near the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”
The ground invasion follows a multi-day Israeli bombing campaign in Lebanon that left hundreds dead, including several Hezbollah leaders.
Israel said the main objectives of the operation against Hezbollah were to halt daily rocket and missile attacks on towns and villages in the northern part of the Jewish state and to return tens of thousands of displaced people.
