The U.S. is sending a “few thousand” more troops to the Middle East to bolster security and defend Israel if necessary, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters during a press briefing on Monday.
The increased presence will support multiple fighter jet squadrons already in the region, and follows reports that Israel could launch a ground invasion of Lebanon, she said.
Israel’s military issued an urgent warning late on Monday for residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate due to planned strikes on Hezbollah targets.
Priceless: Deputy Leader of Hezbollah sweating and scared sh*tless, talking sh*t about Israel while hiding in a closet 🤡
pic.twitter.com/TKRHybgpHr— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) September 30, 2024
A Newsweek report said “the additional deployment includes squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16, A-10, and F-22 fighter jets, along with the personnel needed to support them. The jets were originally scheduled to rotate in and replace the squadrons already stationed there. Instead, both the existing and new squadrons will remain in place to double the airpower on hand, enhancing U.S. military capabilities in the region.”
Clarifying that the jets are not there to assist in an evacuation, Singh said: “they are there for the protection of U.S. forces.”
On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also announced that he was temporarily extending the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and its associated squadrons in the region. With tensions running high, the deployment aims to reassure not just Israel but also other partners in the region.
Separately, President Joe Biden said Monday he was aware about reports that Israel is planning a “limited ground incursion into Lebanon,” and that he wants an immediate ceasefire. “I’m more aware than you might know, and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a ceasefire now,” he said at the White House.
The Washington Post said Israel’s operation is expected to be smaller than its 2006 war against Hezbollah, which was a wider ground incursion, instead focusing on ensuring security for border communities in the north.
Earlier on Monday an Israeli official told the Daily Telegraph that Israeli Special Forces are focusing on Hezbollah infrastructure, including weapons sites and command and control centers. These operations aim to push the militant group away from Israel’s northern border. “They are targeting key sites which have been built across the border zone,” the official said.
