The US has sent more fighter jets, and warships to the Middle East to support Israel ahead of the expected retaliatory attack from Iran.
After Israel’s assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh in capital Tehran, Iran vowed ‘severe’ revenge against Israel. Other armed groups in the region have also issued threats against the US ally in the Middle East.
According to a report from the New York Times (NYT), Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III on Friday dispatched additional fighter jets and warships to the Middle East.
The Pentagon is sending an additional squadron of Air Force F-22 fighter jets, and an undisclosed number of Navy cruisers and destroyers to strengthen Israel’s defense capabilities.
In addition, the US is sending more artillery defense systems to protect Israeli air space. Some other American warships will be relocated from other parts of the world including from the eastern Pacific and the Mediterranean Sea.
“Secretary Austin has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies,” Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
The exact date for mobilizing the additional military units remains undisclosed. However, US officials said on Friday that it is a matter of days.
US military leadership is bracing for the scenario of other Iran-backed groups such as Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen launching attacks on Israel.
Israel says that it was targeted by more than 300 Iranian missiles in an attack in April. However, only a few managed to penetrate the country’s defense system. Israel has equally launched airstrikes targeting Iran.
The rising tensions are putting the region at the grave risk of an all-out war, experts warn.
Earlier this week, the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) released a report maintaining that the death of Haniyeh “pushes back the hopes” for an end to the war.
“The unprecedented attack on Iranian soil shows Netanyahu’s readiness to take major escalatory steps in the regional confrontation with Israel’s rivals,” ISPI wrote
While Iran has shown that it is avoiding direct conflict with Israel, the “sophisticated killing of Haniyeh is a blow to Iranian security services that will probably require a harsher response,” the report explains.