US deploys thousands more troops to the Middle East, ready for worst case scenario

According to The NY Times, an announcement from the Pentagon said the US government has just decided to deploy an additional 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers to the Middle East to enhance security for the 40,000 US soldiers currently stationed there and to support the protection of Israel.

President Joe Biden has decided to deploy "a few thousand" troops to the region amid heightened tensions, especially after Israel stepped up attacks on Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

While the exact number of additional troops has not been disclosed, an official confirmed that the expected number is between 2,000 and 3,000. There are currently 40,000 US troops stationed at bases in Iraq, Syria and several other countries. At the same time, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is present in the Gulf of Oman. Meanwhile, a second aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman, has just left Norfolk, Virginia, and is heading to the Mediterranean.

40,000 US troops currently present in the Middle East are stationed at bases in Iraq, Syria and several other countries. Photo: Getty

Last week, the Pentagon announced the deployment of additional troops but did not provide specific information on numbers.

In recent days, Israeli commandos have carried out brief raids into Lebanon in preparation for a possible large-scale ground offensive. However, US officials have said the attack would be limited to around the Lebanese border.

The raids were aimed at gathering intelligence on Hezbollah’s positions near the border, identifying tunnels and military infrastructure for possible air or ground attacks, according to Israeli and Western officials, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity.

Hezbollah began attacking northern Israel after Hamas launched a "bloody" attack on Israel on October 7. Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have been continuously exchanging fire.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned on Sunday that if Iran or its allies or proxies take advantage of the situation to attack US personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take necessary protective measures.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/my-trien-khai-them-hang-nghin-binh-si-toi-trung-dong-san-sang-cho-kich-ban-xau-349599.html