The Pentagon announced on Friday that reinforcements would be sent to the Middle East to help defend Israel and protect U.S. forces amid concerns of an Iranian attack after two terrorist leaders were killed last week.
A statement by Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh noted that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the deployment of additional military resources and personnel to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command regions. The Pentagon’s announcement comes as Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei threatened “to take revenge” after Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas terrorist leader, and Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, were killed last week.
Singh announced, “Secretary Austin has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies.”
In Friday’s press release, the Pentagon explained that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group would replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group in the Middle East.
“Additionally, Secretary Austin has ordered additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command regions,” Singh added in the press release. “The Department is also taking steps to increase our readiness to deploy additional land-based ballistic missile defense.”
The Pentagon spokeswoman also announced that another fighter squadron would be deployed to the Middle East to reinforce U.S. forces in the region.
READ MORE: Top terrorist leader killed in Iran
According to The Washington Post, the United States currently has more than 4,000 troops in the region as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group. The outlet noted that the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group is a three-ship team with an infantry battalion and other troops from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The Washington Post also reported that President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
Following the call between the two leaders, a spokesperson said, “The President discussed efforts to support Israel’s defense against threats, including against ballistic missiles and drones, to include new defensive US military deployments.”
In Friday’s press release, Singh said the United States has demonstrated that its “global defense is dynamic” and that the Defense Department can “deploy on short notice to meet evolving national security threats” in the face of the devastating Hamas attack against Israel last October and in response to the direct attack launched against Israel by Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in April.
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