US forces stand ready in Middle East to protect Israel and American troops from Iranian attack

Middle East, News, US August 30, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

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U.S. forces continue to stand ready in the Middle East to protect Israel, American troops, and assets in the region from any potential attack from Iran or its proxies.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said on August 27, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East, and the U.S. naval and air forces are “postured to support the defense of Israel and protect U.S. troops and assets in the region.”

The United States has deployed two carrier strike groups, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the Middle East. A squadron of F-22 Raptor fighter jets and the Ohio-class cruise missile submarine USS Georgia have also been deployed in the region.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that the U.S. forces will remain in the region as long as they are needed. “We remain intently focused on de-escalating tensions in the Middle East, while also remaining focused on securing a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal to bring all of the hostages home and to end the war in Gaza,” Ryder said.

The U.S. forces remain vigilant as regional conflict has intensified between Israel and Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah. On August 25, Israel launched a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions. Israel described the attack as a preemptive attempt to thwart a large-scale rocket and missile attack by Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite militant group based in Lebanon and backed by Iran.

U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln — *^{The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln sails in the Pacific Ocean. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Daniel Kimmelman)}*

In response to Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah retaliated by firing hundreds of rockets and drones into Israel, describing the barrage as a “response” to the assassination of a top commander, Fouad Shukur, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month. The exchange of fire between the two sides, which lasted several hours, marked one of the most intense confrontations since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder highlighted that Israel responded to Hezbollah attacks without U.S. involvement and said, “We provided some intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, [or] ISR, in terms of tracking incoming Lebanese Hezbollah attacks, but did not conduct any kinetic operations as they were not required.”

Over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III made two calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss Israel’s action against Hezbollah and reassured U.S. “ironclad” resolve to defend Israel against threats from Iran and its regional partners and proxies.

U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. also traveled to Israel, during his Middle East trip, where he met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.

According to the Pentagon statement, “The leaders reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Israeli strategic partnership while also discussing the most recent engagement across [Israel and Lebanese borders] and the need to de-escalate tensions to avoid a broader conflict.” The U.S. and Israel defense leaders also discussed the “vital need for humanitarian assistance to reach Gaza residents and to minimize civilian casualties; and the importance of preventing the conflict from broadening.”

U.S. and Israel defense leaders meeting — ^{Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel on December 18, 2023. (Image Credit: U.S. DoD/Chad McNeeley)}

Ryder highlighted that at this point the ongoing conflict has not turned into a wider regional conflict, and the U.S. remains focused on de-escalation of tensions in the region. “Right now, we still assess that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is contained to Gaza,” Ryder said adding that the the deployment of U.S. military capabilities to the Middle East “has sent a clear message of deterrence with the idea of preventing a wider regional conflict”.