By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali
WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) – The U.S. army will deploy further fighter jets and Navy warships to the Center East, the Pentagon stated on Friday, as Washington seeks to bolster defenses following threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.
The U.S. is bracing for Iran to make good on its vow to answer the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh two days in the past in Tehran – one in a collection of killings of senior figures within the Palestinian militant group because the battle between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages.
U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin had permitted sending further Navy cruisers and destroyers– which may shoot down ballistic missiles– to the Center East and Europe.
It’s also sending an extra squadron of fighter jets to the Center East.
“Austin has ordered changes to U.S. army posture designed to enhance U.S. pressure safety, to extend help for the protection of Israel, and to make sure the US is ready to answer varied contingencies,” the Pentagon stated in an announcement.
There had been hypothesis that the Pentagon won’t substitute the united statesTheodore Roosevelt provider strike group within the Center East as soon as it accomplished its ongoing deployment. However Austin determined to rotate in the united statesAbraham Lincoln Service strike group to switch it.
The Pentagon assertion added it will enhance readiness to deploy extra land-based ballistic missile defenses.
The U.S. army additionally intensified deployments previous to April 13, when Iran launched an assault on Israeli territory with drones and missiles. Nonetheless, the menace from Hezbollah in Lebanon might current distinctive challenges to any efforts by the US to intercept drones and missiles given the group’s huge arsenal and speedy proximity to Israel.
On the time, Israel efficiently knocked down nearly all the roughly 300 drones and missiles with the assistance of the US and different allies.
Biden, in a telephone name on Thursday with Netanyahu, mentioned new U.S. defensive army deployments to help Israel in opposition to threats reminiscent of missiles and drones, the White Home stated.
Iran and Hamas have each accused Israel of finishing up the killing and have pledged to retaliate in opposition to their foe. Israel has not claimed accountability for the dying nor denied it.
Haniyeh’s dying was one in a collection of killings of senior Hamas figures because the battle in Gaza between Hamas and Israel nears its eleventh month and concern grows that the battle is spreading throughout the Center East.
Earlier, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated the U.S. didn’t consider escalation was inevitable.
“I feel we’re being very direct in our messaging that definitely we don’t need to see heightened tensions and we do consider there’s an off ramp right here and that’s that ceasefire deal,” Singh stated.
An Israeli delegation will journey to Cairo in coming days for negotiations to achieve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage launch deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated on Friday.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; enhancing by Diane Craft and David Gregorio)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.
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