The United States is increasing its military presence in the Middle East with a “few thousand” troops, bringing in new units and extending others already there. This comes amidst the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, with fears of a broader regional war following the killing of Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that forces in the region will be extended and augmented, including F-16, F-15E, A-10, and F-22 fighter aircraft and associated personnel.
The US Central Command announced the arrival of three additional squadrons of warplanes in the region. Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister briefed US Defense Secretary on ground operations targeting Hezbollah in South Lebanon, escalating the conflict after intense air strikes. Defense Secretary Austin offered support for dismantling Hezbollah’s attack infrastructure along the border and warned Iran of serious consequences for directly striking Israel in response.
