Published October 01,2024
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The US Defense Department introduced steps Monday geared toward enhancing the protection posture of its forces throughout the Middle East.
“The DOD (Department of Defense) has taken steps to further enhance the defense posture of US forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war,” spokeswoman Sabrina Singh informed reporters.
Saying that the USS Abraham Lincoln plane service fleet, which was scheduled for rotation, is to stay in place, Singh stated the augmented forces being deployed embrace F-16, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-22 and A-10 fighter jets, together with related personnel that shall be despatched to the area.
“The Secretary (Lloyd Austin) also increased the readiness of additional US forces to deploy, elevating our preparedness to respond to various contingencies,” she added.
Asked about experiences of Israel’s plans for a floor invasion of Lebanon, Singh stated: “I’d refer you to the Israelis to really speak to their operations or any potential operations.”
“I can tell you that we’re working with the Israelis and trying to learn more about what they intend to do right now. I just don’t have more to offer,” she added.
Reaffirming that Israel didn’t inform the US concerning the airstrikes it carried out on Sept. 27 that led to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, Singh famous that “the Secretary (Austin) was caught off guard. We made that pretty clear on Friday. We were not involved in that operation. We were notified as the operation was underway.”
She denied claims of a “trust issue” between the US and Israeli protection minister and stated that “since Oct. 7, the Secretary (Austin) was regularly engaging with (Israeli Defense) Minister (Yoav) Gallant, and so that conversation, dialog, has continued, and that is a good thing.”
“I don’t think you’re in touch regularly with someone if you don’t have some type of trust there,” Singh stated.
Asked about whether or not US weapons have been used within the airstrikes that killed Nasrallah, she stated they don’t examine each Israeli assault and referred to the Israelis for additional inquiries concerning info on the strikes.
Since Sept. 23, Israel has launched huge airstrikes towards what it calls Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, killing greater than 960 individuals and injuring over 2,770 others, in response to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
Several Hezbollah leaders have been killed within the assault, together with the group’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare for the reason that begin of Israel’s struggle on Gaza, which has killed practically 41,600 individuals, most of them girls and kids, following a cross-border assault by the Palestinian group Hamas final October.
The worldwide neighborhood has warned that Israeli assaults in Lebanon may escalate the Gaza battle right into a wider regional struggle.
Source: www.anews.com.tr