The Pentagon under Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed last Friday that, in reaction to threats by Iran and its allies in Gaza, Yemen and Lebanon against Israel, it would deploy extra combat aircraft and missile-equipped warships to the Middle East. It is believed these threats are retaliatory actions following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.
Plans involve launching an extra F-22 fighter jet squadron from the US Air Force, along with an undetermined number of navy cruisers and destroyers capable of warding off ballistic missile attacks. Should the situation necessitate, more land-based ballistic missile defence systems may also be dispatched.
As part of the move, Austin has directed the replacement of aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, set to return in the next fortnight, with the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, currently located in the eastern Pacific. This is to compound the ongoing presence of an aircraft carrier and attendant warships in the region.
Additional security will be provided by relocating some of the ships already in the western Mediterranean Sea, moving them eastward towards Israel’s coastline, as per the recommendations of a high-ranking Pentagon official.
Deputy Pentagon press secretary, Sabrina Singh, declared Austin’s order for changes to US military stances. These, she explained, are aimed at enhancing US force security, bolstering Israel’s defence, and ensuring US preparedness for a range of contingencies. While the exact timings for the arrival of these reinforcements have yet to be firmed up, it is understood that the aircraft will be deployed in a matter of days, with naval reinforcements taking somewhat longer.
The Pentagon will dispatch the required fleet assortment to optimally bolster Israel’s defences at a swift pace, without inadvertently escalating hostilities, officials noted. Singh also hinted during a news conference last Friday that extra troops could potentially be sent by the US to operate any additional Pentagon resources dispatched to the region. These provisions, Singh clarified, are purely of a defensive nature.
In a phone conversation with his Israeli ally, Yoav Gallant, Mr Austin affirmed that the US would support Israel’s defence, indicated by a heightened presence of troops in the region, as confirmed by Ms Singh. She also noted that the Pentagon is preparing for potential attacks on US troops by groups supported by Iran, which could be Iran’s response to Haniyeh’s death. These groups could include the Houthis in Yemen and Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Mr Austin conversed with Mr Gallant about the potential repercussions of escalating tensions in the region. He suggested that reducing stress would be beneficial for all nations involved. As part of fortifying regional security, the Pentagon has placed over 80 land-based combat aircraft and multiple warships in the area. This revised information was first posted in The New York Times in 2024.