2024-08-03 11:45:37
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has briefed Israel on current and future changes to US forces in the Middle East, the Pentagon said today, as quoted by Reuters, although it has not yet been decided exactly what additional capabilities will be sent.
Austin briefed Israeli Secretary Yoav Gallant on the additional measures, which will include current and future defense force changes, that the Pentagon will undertake in support of Israel’s defense,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said after a telephone conversation between the US defense secretary and Israeli his colleague.
Singh added that the decision would include deploying additional forces to the region, but Austin had not yet made a decision. Government officials told Reuters a wide range of options existed, including planes and ships.
The United States is preparing for Iran to follow through on threats to respond to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh two days ago in Tehran. This is one of a series of assassinations of high-ranking members of the Palestinian group.
Iran and Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the killing and vowed revenge. Israel neither admitted nor denied responsibility.
It is not clear whether the US preparations are as intense as they were before April 13, when Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory with drones and missiles, writes BTA.
Israel then successfully shot down almost all of the roughly 300 drones and missiles with the help of the US and other allies.
In a phone call with Netanyahu yesterday, Biden discussed new US defensive military deployments to support Israel against threats such as missiles and drones, the White House said.
Singh said the United States does not want to witness a wider regional conflict and does not believe escalation is inevitable.
“I think we’ve been very direct in our messaging that we certainly don’t want to see an escalation and we believe there is a way out here and that’s the ceasefire agreement,” Singh said.