The United States has said that it will bolster its military presence in the Middle East by deploying additional warships and fighter jets. The Pentagon's announcement comes on Friday (local time) after Iran and its regional allies vowed retaliation for the killings of a Hamas leader in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Beirut.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, in a statement, said that the Department of Defense continues to take steps to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or Iran's partners and proxies. She said the military deployment is being increased to protect US personnel and defend Israel amid soaring tensions in the region.
"Since the horrific Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the Secretary of Defense has reiterated that the United States will protect our personnel and interests in the region, including our ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel... The aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln will replace one helmed by the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the region," Singh said.
"To that end, Secretary Austin has ordered adjustments to US military posture designed to improve US force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies," she added.
What Fuelled The Tension?
Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed by Israel in Beirut on Tuesday. Israel said the move was a response to deadly rocket fire a week before on the annexed Golan Heights. Hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was also killed in Iran's capital Tehran. Israel has not yet commented on the issue.
Quoting a source close to Hezbollah, AFP reported that Iranian officials met in Tehran on Wednesday with representatives of the so-called "axis of resistance," a loose alliance of Tehran-backed groups hostile to Israel, to discuss their next steps.
"Two scenarios were discussed: a simultaneous response from Iran and its allies or a staggered response from each party," the source, who was reportedly briefed on the meeting, told AFP requesting anonymity.
Tension rose in the region after Iran carried out its first direct attack on Israeli soil in April after a strike blamed on Israel killed Revolutionary Guards at Tehran's consulate in Damascus. American forces had helped defend Israel against the attack.
"As we have demonstrated since October and again in April, the United States' global defense is dynamic and the Department of Defense retains the capability to deploy on short notice to meet evolving national security threats," Singh said.
"The United States also remains intently focused on de-escalating tensions in the region and pushing for a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal to bring the hostages home and end the war in Gaza," she added.