The US is “closely” keeping track of the scenario within the Middle East amid rising tensions, the Pentagon mentioned Thursday.
“The department continues to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East,” spokeswoman Sabrina Singh instructed reporters.
The US strengthened its army pressure posture and capabilities all through the Middle East to defend Israel and US forces, mentioned Singh.
“In mild of the escalating regional tensions, we stay centered on de-escalating tensions within the area, whereas additionally postured for deterrence and the protection of Israel.
“The US government also remains very focused on securing a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal to bring all hostages home and to end the war in Gaza,” she mentioned.
Asked if Iran retaliates towards Israel, how does the Pentagon assess threats from its proxies within the area, Singh mentioned she will not be going to have interaction in a hypothetical on “if, what and when could happen.”
“What I can inform you is — we have elevated and enhanced our regional presence in order that to ship a message of deterrence, to ship a message that we do not need to see this widen out to a regional battle, and on the subject of assaults on our forces, you have at all times seen us take measures we’d like with a view to reply.
“And if there were to be any attacks on our forces, whether it be in Iraq and Syria, we always reserve that right to respond at a time and place of our choosing,” she mentioned.
Singh underlined that if Israel is attacked, the US will defend Tel Aviv.
“You saw us do that on April 13 … we will do that again. Should Israel be attacked, we absolutely will come to Israel’s defense,” she added.
The Pentagon introduced earlier this month that the US will deploy further army property to the Middle East forward of a attainable retaliation by Iran towards Israel.
Defense chief Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, geared up with F-35C fighters, to speed up transit to the Central Command space of accountability, including to capabilities already supplied by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.
Additionally, he ordered the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) guided missile submarine to the Central Command area.
Tensions are working excessive within the Middle East following the July 31 assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh within the Iranian capital of Tehran and Israel’s assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on July 30.
Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of finishing up Haniyeh’s assassination, whereas Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied accountability.
Iran vowed “harsh punishment” for Israel for Haniyeh’s killing on Iranian soil.
The escalation comes amid an ongoing Israeli offensive towards the Gaza Strip which has killed greater than 40,000 Palestinians following an assault Oct. 7 by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, that killed 1,139 Israelis.
Source: www.anews.com.tr