US Sends More Troops To West Asia As Tension Soars Between Israel And Lebanon (image @DeptofDefense)
Nearly 500 people were killed and more than 1,500 were injured during Israeli attack on Lebanon. The killed include women, children, and para-medics. Israel claimed it attacked more than 1000 alleged Hezbollah sites. tension grew in the region as Hezbollah and Israel continue to attack each other.
Among the concerns of intense spread of Gaza war into neighbouring regions, US is sending additional troops to the region. Washington now has over 40,000 troops in the region. Pentagon does not say how many more troops would be deployed or what they would do.
On Monday, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, two Navy destroyers and a cruiser set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, headed to the Sixth Fleet area in Europe on a regularly scheduled deployment, said AP. The departure of the ships indicates possibility that US could keep both the Truman and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln – which is in the Arabian Gulf – in the region in case of more aggressive violence break out.
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“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region…But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics”, Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary told AP.
During the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, US officials said that Biden Administration was presenting “concrete ideas” to provide an “off-ramp”, aiming to prevent an all-out war in the region. However, with the recent happenings, it appears that US may not have as much control as it claims to have.
The official would not tell what the “concrete ideas” are. He said they had yet to be presented to allies and partners for what he termed a “stress test” for their likelihood of success, reported the news agency.
The US State Department also urged citizens to leave Lebanon, as the risks of regional war raises.
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“Due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the State Department said.
US Department of Defence reiterated US commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin voiced support for Israel during a separate phone calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Ryder told reporters.
“Secretary Austin reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Israel’s right to defend itself, as Hezbollah extends its attacks deeper into Israel. He stressed the importance of finding a path to a diplomatic solution that will allow residents on both sides of the border to return to their homes as quickly and safely as possible, as well as reaching a Gaza cease-fire”, he said.
