On Monday, the Pentagon issued orders to 2,000 soldiers to prepare for an immediate deployment to the Middle East. This was in response to the rising threats of security to American interests due to the Israel/Hamas War. The forces include medical personnel, explosive ordnance disposal units, as well as other security personnel. They are aimed at bolstering security for key American facilities located in the Middle East.
The troops will perform a variety of support functions. This includes providing medical assistance, and expertise with explosive ordnances. Reports said that the support could also include bolstering security for gate crossings.
Pentagon officials stated that the forces would not be deployed into Israel. They would come from bases already in place in Europe and the region. They would instead go to other countries within the region. John Kirby, the White House National Security Council’s spokesman, said that the administration had not ruled out using US forces inside Israel or Gaza to free American hostages in Gaza.
The Pentagon has issued orders for the deployment of two American Carrier Strike Groups. The USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group 12, which is part of the 6th Fleet and consists of the aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Normandy of Ticonderoga Class, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner and USS Ramage and USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. The USS Eisenhower of the 5th Fleet, the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and the guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon USS Mason, and USS Gravely make up the other Carrier Strike Group.
BREAKING: The United States is considering deploying a second aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, as the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is set to arrive near Israel.
The reasoning, according to a U.S. defense official, is to “deter regional powers from joining… pic.twitter.com/i6dN1dFRy9
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 10, 2023
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable is also heading to the area from Kuwait on the Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan. The 26th MEUSOC consists of approximately 2,400 Marines and sailors and is composed of aviation units that fly the F-35B and MV-22 Ospreys as well as other helicopters. It also includes an infantry unit, supporting artillery, and track and support units.
The US Navy and Marine Corps are deploying a massive amount of firepower to the region. This does not include the many Air Force squadrons that are also deployed in the area. The war is now in its tenth day and shows no sign of ending anytime soon. As a result, the US is preparing to defend Israel, if Hezbollah forces from Lebanon follow through on their threats to attack or invade Israel via the North, if Israel continues their offensive. Iran seems to have backed down on its threats to attack Israel should they continue their offensive.
Iran has taken a major step to withdraw its threat of war against Israel that it made on Saturday. Iran threatened Israel on Saturday that an invasion of Gaza by ground forces would lead to Iranian intervention.
Iran claims that after working with Hamas on the planning of the terrorist group’s attacks against Israel, it does not want to see the war between Israel and Hamas escalate further. Axios reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland met on Saturday in Beirut. Amir-Abdollahian asked Wennesland for a message from Wennesland warning Israel not to launch a ground-based offensive in Gaza.
Recent events in the area seemed to have brought down the temperature. The American forces are already in the area and those on the way are good insurance against the temperature in the future. The war in Gaza could violently spread outside of Israel’s isolated region, resulting in a war involving multiple nations that has the possibility of becoming something bigger.
