US Defense Secretary orders increased Middle East troop deployment

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has authorized the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East, including destroyers for missile defence, fighter squadrons, refuelling aircraft, and several B-52 long-range strike bombers.

This announcement was made by Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder on November 1, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media sources.

The decision is aimed at enhancing the protection of U.S. forces and citizens in the region, bolstering Israel's defence, and promoting de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy. The newly deployed forces are expected to arrive in the coming months, coinciding with the planned departure of the aircraft carrier strike group USS Abraham Lincoln.

This redeployment follows the decision to send the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system to Israel and maintain the Amphibious Ready Group/Maritime Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Ryder emphasized that these actions highlight the flexible nature of the U.S. global defence posture and its capability to rapidly mobilize forces in response to evolving national security threats.

Austin reiterated that if Iran or its allied forces choose to target Americans or U.S. interests, Washington will take all necessary measures to safeguard its personnel.

In mid-August, the U.S. dispatched the cruise missile-equipped nuclear submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) to the region and accelerated the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is equipped with F-35C fighter jets, to the operational area of the U.S. Armed Forces Central Command.

The situation in the Middle East escalated sharply on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, a radical Islamist movement designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, launched a significant attack on Israel.

The assault included extensive rocket fire and an incursion into Israeli territory, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 civilians. Hamas also took more than 250 hostages into Gaza, with some released or exchanged, while others have died. Currently, 97 Israelis are still held captive, with at least 30 confirmed dead.

In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, and its military operations in the Gaza Strip have reportedly led to over 42,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.

Support for Hamas has also come from Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite movement recognized as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, which has engaged in cross-border shelling of Israel.

In late September, Israel initiated a "pre-emptive military operation" against Hezbollah, resulting in the deaths of several key leaders within the group, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah. Additionally, the IDF has conducted limited ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Iran, a supporter of Hezbollah, has also targeted Israeli territory with drones and ballistic missiles, demanding a cessation of military actions in Gaza.

By Tamilla Hasanova