- Amid speculations that the ongoing conflict could escalate further, the US said it has ordered its 2,000 forces to be prepared to deploy.
- The United States geared up its warships and lethal aircraft to provide Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) with whatever it needed to respond to the attacks by the militant group.
- As of Tuesday, five shipments of US weapons and equipment had arrived in Israel.
- US defence officials say the administration has already given Israel small-diameter bombs, other munition and interceptor missiles for its Iron Dome air defence system, and more will come.
Amid speculations that the ongoing conflict could escalate further following a brutal attack on a hospital in Gaza, the US said it has ordered its 2,000 forces to be prepared to deploy if needed in the coming days and weeks.
Amid the brutal war between Israel and Hamas, the United States geared up its warships and lethal aircraft to provide Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) with whatever it needed to respond to the attacks by the militant group.
One US aircraft carrier and its strike group are already in the eastern Mediterranean and a second one has left America and is heading that way. In addition, three Marine warships are moving into the region. Scores of aircraft were dispatched to US military bases around the Middle East, and American special operations forces are working with Israel’s military in planning and intelligence.
The build-up reflects growing US concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel will escalate into wider regional conflict. So, the key mission for American ships and warplanes is to establish a large and visible presence that will deter Hezbollah, Iran or others from taking advantage of the situation. One of the most visible examples of the U.S. response is in the waters surrounding Israel an array of massive warships is in or moving toward the eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group was ordered to go to the Eastern Mediterranean within hours after the attack, and on Tuesday the Pentagon said the ship’s six-month deployment in the region has been extended and gave no end date.
The ships carry helicopters and assault craft that can insert Marines into hostile territory or provide medical care or other assistance. The warships, particularly the aircraft carriers with their fighter jets and surveillance aircraft, have historically proven to be an effective deterrent against Iranian and other militant activity in the Middle East. The carriers serve as command-and-control centres and can conduct information warfare. They carry F-18 fighter jets that can fly deterrence missions or strike targets. They also have E-2 Hawkeye surveillance planes that can provide early warning on missile launches and detect enemy movements.
US defence officials say the administration has already given Israel small-diameter bombs, other munition and interceptor missiles for its Iron Dome air defence system, and more will come. The U.S. is also getting defence companies to expedite weapons orders by Israel that were already on the books, including munitions for the Iron Dome.
The Iron Dome munitions the U.S. provides to Israel will likely be in addition to ones Israel had already ordered and will be part of ongoing military assistance packages. The packages will also include JDAM kits — essentially a tail fin and navigation kit that turns a “dumb” bomb into a “smart” bomb that can be guided to a target.
The Pentagon has also ordered additional warplanes to bolster A-10, F-15 and F-16 squadrons at bases throughout the Middle East. More will be added if needed.
The U.S. Air Force already has significant airpower in the region to conduct manned and unmanned operations, most notably in Syria, where an Air Force F-16 last week was ordered to shoot down a Turkish drone that was posing a threat to U.S. ground forces.
Austin ordered about 2,000 US forces to be prepared to deploy if needed in the coming days and weeks. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters Tuesday that the units have not yet been identified. She said the troops would be able to respond quickly, particularly to provide intelligence and surveillance, transportation and medical assistance. The 2,000 troops are likely to include additional Air Force and Army personnel.
(With inputs from agencies)
