To protect Israel from potential threats from Iran and its proxies, the Pentagon announced that it would send more warships and fighter jets to the Middle East.
Following the assassination of Hezbollah head Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and a vital Hezbollah chief in Lebanon, tensions have grown in the region. In reaction, the US has placed missile defence forces of heightened alert and reaffirmed its “ironclad” devotion to Israel’s protection.
Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s high president, has vowed “harsh abuse” against Israel for Haniyeh’s shooting and declared three times of national mourning. Haniyeh, 62, was killed in Tehran on Wednesday. Israel has never made any comments on the matter, though Iran and Hamas both point to Israel.
The Pentagon’s speech highlighted that the new operations are intended to “improve US power safety, increase support for the army of Israel, and maintain the US is prepared to respond to different contingencies”, according to Reuters. This will include more ballistic missile defence-capable ships and ships.
The Supreme Leader has stated loud and clear to CNN that he intends to kill the killing of a Hamas president in Tehran, and that they want to launch yet another attack on Israel. We need to make sure we have the right resources and capabilities in the area so that we ca n’t just assume that we are going to be victims of that kind of an attack.
In addition to some 80 land-based battle aircraft, the Pentagon has previously deployed more than a hundred ships in the region. According to New York Times, the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, equipped with about 40 F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35 strike flights, is now steaming near the Arabian Gulf, while the USS Wasp marine willing team, with 30 jets and helicopters as well as 4, 500 Marines and sailors, is operating in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The Pentagon’s spokesperson, Sabrina Singh, remarked that the US does not believe escalation is inevitable. According to Reuters, Singh said,” We are being very direct in our messaging that we do n’t want to see heightened tensions and believe there is an off-ramp here, which is the ceasefire deal.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also reaffirmed Israel’s readiness for “any scenario” and issued a warning about” challenging days ahead.” He mentioned the recent” crushing blows” delivered to Israel’s enemies, including the killing of Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah military commander, in Beirut.
In the coming days, an Israeli delegation will visit Cairo to discuss a potential hostage release and a ceasefire in Gaza.
This comes after Hamas sparked the current conflict with its October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1, 200 deaths. Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza has since led to nearly 40, 000 fatalities, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
