Strong indications suggest that the United States will deploy additional warships and fighter jets in the Middle East to bolster Israel’s defense against potential attacks by Iran and its allies, according to the Pentagon.
Tensions in the region have heightened following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and a key Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.
Missile defense forces are on heightened alert, and the Pentagon reiterated its “ironclad” commitment to defending Israel.
Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has promised “harsh punishment” against Israel for Haniyeh’s assassination, which occurred in Tehran last Wednesday. Iran and its ally in Gaza have blamed Israel for the attack, though Israel has not commented.
Haniyeh, 62, was considered Hamas’s overall leader and played a crucial role in ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza conflict. His death followed the killing of Fuad Shukr, a top Hezbollah military commander, by Israel.
According to the BBC, a Pentagon statement indicated that the new deployments would “enhance US force protection, bolster the defense of Israel, and ensure preparedness for various contingencies,” including additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers.
International airlines have suspended flights to the region, and Israeli ministers have been issued satellite phones in case of communication infrastructure attacks.
Israeli forces killed a Hamas operative in the West Bank on Saturday, while dozens of Palestinians have been reported killed in Gaza strikes over the last 24 hours.
The US previously increased deployments on April 13 when Iran launched an attack on Israel with drones and missiles. Israel and its allies intercepted nearly all of the roughly 300 projectiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has acknowledged recent “crushing blows” delivered to Israel’s enemies, including Shukr’s killing in Beirut, and warned of challenging days ahead.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated that escalation is not deemed inevitable and emphasized the importance of a ceasefire deal.
An Israeli delegation is set to travel to Cairo for negotiations on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. The conflict was ignited by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people, leading to an ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza that has reportedly resulted in nearly 40,000 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
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