To defend Israel and protect US troops in the region, additional US warships, fighter jets and bombers will be sent to the Middle East, the US Department of Defense announced.
“In keeping with our commitments to the protection of U.S. citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defense of Israel, and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy, the Secretary of Defense ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several U.S. Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region”, the department writes in a press release.
However, preparing the fleet of aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln for departure will take time and it is expected that forces will start arriving in the region in the coming months.
“These movements demonstrate the flexible nature of U.S. global defense posture and U.S. capability to deploy world-wide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats”, it said.
Warning to Iran
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin specifically warns Iran and its allies against attacking US personnel or interests in the region, saying that if they do, we “will take every measure necessary to defend our people”.
The US already has a large military presence in the region and recently decided to deploy the THAAD missile defense system on Israeli soil.
The US is generally considered to be Israel’s most important ally, and analysts point out that Tel Aviv’s wars and bombing campaigns are effectively enabled by US support and funding, while Washington consistently blocks any calls for sanctions or a ceasefire.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has threatened a “crushing response” to further attacks on Iran or its allies.
