US Military Moving Fighter Jet and Aircraft Carrier to Middle East
The Pentagon announced on Friday that the United States will increase its military presence in the Middle East by moving a fighter jet squadron and keeping an aircraft carrier there to protect American troops and help defend Israel from potential attacks by Iran and its allies.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has also directed the deployment of more cruisers and destroyers equipped with ballistic missile defense systems to the European and Middle Eastern regions. He is also initiating the process of transferring more land-based ballistic missile defense weapons to those regions.
White House: President Joe Biden fulfilled the commitment to Israel. Biden talked about new military deployments by the United States to guard against potential drone and ballistic missile attacks. Nearly all of the dozens of missiles and drones fired by Iran, against Israel in April were shot down by American forces.
U.S. officials are concerned about a surge in violence in the Middle East. After Israel’s recent attacks on leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. Which resulted in threats of reprisals. The death of senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur in Beirut on Wednesday and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran has also vowed to retaliate.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7th which started the Gaza war, Israel has vowed to kill the group’s leaders.
The fighter jet squadron’s origin and its intended Middle East base were not disclosed by the Pentagon. Many of the region’s allies are frequently willing to host American military personnel, but they prefer it not to be made public.
The Patriot and THAAD systems, which both launch interceptor missiles from specialized trailer-based mobile launching systems, are two options available to the Pentagon for additional land-based ballistic missile defense. The system the Pentagon planned to use to strengthen defenses in the area was not disclosed.
White House: Biden emphasized his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran. Including those posed by its proxy active organizations, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
More ships and fighter aircraft squadrons, more air defense systems, or unmanned weapons are just a few of the options that military and defense officials have been evaluating. Due to host countries’ extreme sensitivity to the presence of additional US forces and their desire to keep those movements secret. The US frequently withholds information.
It is unclear what new ships would be deployed to the Middle East.
The USS Roosevelt, USS Bulkeley, USS Wasp and USS New York are just a few of the American warships, regularly stationed there and in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Members of the amphibious ready group. The Wasp and the New York are equipped with a Marine expeditionary unit. That may be called upon if an evacuation of American personnel is necessary.
