U.S. sends extra forces to the Center East to ‘defend Israel’

The U.S. is sending extra troops and army {hardware} to the Center East because it seeks to extend the sources accessible to “defend Israel,” the Pentagon mentioned in an announcement.

U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin “reiterated the USA’ dedication to take each potential step to defend Israel and famous the strengthening of U.S. army power posture and capabilities all through the Center East in mild of escalating regional tensions,” the assertion, issued Sunday by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, mentioned.

This contains sending a guided missile submarine to the area, in addition to accelerating the transit of a provider strike group outfitted with F-35C fighter jets.

The assertion follows a name between Austin and Israel’s Protection Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday. It comes towards the backdrop of Iran’s management vowing retaliation towards Israel after the killing of Hamas’ former political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

Iran, which helps Hamas, says Israel carried out the assassination. Israel has not commented on the matter.

Tehran has not but responded militarily to the act, leaving its adversaries and the broader area on tenterhooks.

An all-out battle between Israel and Iran — and Iran’s proxies, akin to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah — could be devastating to all sides concerned. Every nation’s leaders constantly face stress to reply militarily.

Tit-for-tat exchanges of missile strikes between Iran and Israel in April concerned assaults that had been primarily measured and telegraphed to keep away from vital injury or casualties. Tehran has thus far expressed scant curiosity in going to battle with Israel, however some analysts warn {that a} forthcoming retaliation could also be extra extreme.

Israel’s army response to the assault has killed greater than 39,000 folks within the Gaza Strip, native well being authorities. Half the buildings within the blockaded enclave have been destroyed, in keeping with the U.N.

The dying of Haniyeh, who led cease-fire talks for Hamas, has additionally raised questions over the way forward for a diplomatic answer to the battle between the Palestinian militant group and Israel. Hamas has chosen Yahya Sinwar because the group’s new political chief. Sinwar, who additionally holds shut ties to Iran, is seen as way more excessive than his predecessor and fewer keen to compromise on a cease-fire deal.