U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has directed the military to remain on high alert as tensions between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah continue to escalate. The situation has intensified following Israel’s airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday.
With numerous U.S. military assets positioned in the Middle East, Austin has ordered them to be ready for potential conflict escalation. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that Austin instructed the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group to remain in the region, following its rerouting from the Indo-Pacific months ago.
Read: Houthi Rebels Claim Attacks On Israel And US Navy Amid Escalating Conflict
Additionally, the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit has also been directed to stay, supported by an increased presence of U.S. fighter and attack squadrons.
Austin has enhanced the readiness of additional U.S. forces to ensure preparedness for any contingencies. “We maintain robust and integrated air-defense capabilities across the Middle East to protect U.S. forces,” Ryder said in a statement on Sunday.
This directive could lead to two aircraft carrier strike groups being stationed in the Middle East for the second time in recent months. These strike groups, which include naval destroyers and fighter jets, have been operating in the region since June.
The U.S. is also preparing for any potential moves from Iran, which supports Hezbollah and has been involved in conflicts with Israel both directly and indirectly. White House spokesman John Kirby noted in an interview with ABC News that the U.S. deployed additional forces to the region in response to rising threats.
Read: IDF Intensifies Airstrikes Against Hezbollah Leadership Amid Escalating Conflict
“We did deploy some additional forces into the region,” Kirby told ABC. “We now have more force capability in the Middle East than we did in April, when Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones. So there is already a very robust military capability to defend ourselves and to help defend Israel if it comes to that.”
“We have contingency plans for evacuations in just about every corner of the world,” Kirby said. “Everything that Secretary Austin is doing at the Department of Defense is to make sure that we have the requisite capability and planning and preparation capability available to us.”
The U.S. continues to monitor the situation closely, maintaining readiness for any further developments.
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