The United States will enhance its military presence in the Middle East by deploying additional warships and fighter jets to protect US personnel and support Israel amid escalating regional tensions, the Pentagon announced Friday.
This decision follows threats of retaliation from Iran and its regional allies in response to the recent killings of a Hamas leader in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Beirut, raising concerns of a larger conflict.
“The Department of Defense is actively working to prevent regional escalation by Iran and its partners,” said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. “Following the devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the Secretary of Defense has reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to protecting our personnel and interests in the region, including our unwavering support for Israel.”
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group will replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the region. Additionally, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered extra ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East and US European Command areas, as well as a new fighter squadron.
Tensions spiked after Israel’s killing of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut on Tuesday, which Israel stated was in response to recent rocket attacks on the Golan Heights. Shortly after, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, an attack Israel has yet to comment on.
A Hezbollah source told AFP that Iranian officials met with representatives of the “axis of resistance,” a coalition of Tehran-backed groups hostile to Israel, to discuss potential responses. They considered either a simultaneous or staggered reaction from the involved parties.
In April, Iran directly attacked Israeli soil with drones and missiles after a strike on Israel’s consulate in Damascus, which killed Revolutionary Guards. The US assisted Israel in defending against that attack.
Singh emphasized that the US defense posture is adaptable to emerging threats. “The United States is also focused on de-escalating regional tensions and advocating for a ceasefire, aiming to resolve the conflict in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.”
