US bolsters military presence in Middle East Amid rising tensions

The US Department of Defence announced plans to deploy a fighter jet squadron to the Middle East and retain an aircraft carrier in the region, aligning with President Joe Biden's promise to enhance military presence to defend Israel against potential threats from Iran and its proxies and protect US troops.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has also directed additional ballistic missile defence-capable ships to the European and Middle East regions and is preparing to send more land-based missile defence systems there, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

This strategic move comes amid concerns over increasing violence in the Middle East following Israel's recent attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, which prompted threats of retaliation. In a recent call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Biden discussed the new US military deployments aimed at countering potential attacks from ballistic missiles and drones. Earlier this year, US forces successfully intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles and drones targeting Israel.

The assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut have heightened fears of escalating conflict, potentially leading to a regional war. Israel has vowed to continue targeting Hamas leaders following the group's attack on October 7, which ignited the current hostilities.

In response, Austin has ordered the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to replace the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, indicating the Pentagon's intent to maintain a continuous carrier presence in the region as a deterrent against Iran.

The exact origins and destination of the fighter jet squadron remain undisclosed, as regional allies often prefer to keep such information private. The White House reaffirmed President Biden's commitment to Israel's security against threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirmed that several force movements are underway to provide additional support to Israel and enhance protection for US troops in the region. Military officials are considering a range of options, including deploying more ships, aircraft squadrons, and air defence systems. Details about these movements are often kept confidential due to the sensitivity of host nations regarding the presence of additional US forces.

The US maintains a consistent naval presence in the region, including the Roosevelt, the Bulkeley, the Wasp, and the New York. Additionally, two US Navy destroyers currently in the Middle East are heading north through the Red Sea towards the Mediterranean, with at least one potentially staying in the Mediterranean if necessary.