The United States military is bolstering its presence in the Middle East ahead of the scheduled departure of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, expected to leave the region by mid-November.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadrons, tanker aircraft, and B-52 bombers.
Despite the Abraham Lincoln’s departure, the U.S. will continue to maintain the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in Israel and the Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit in the eastern Mediterranean. Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder emphasized that these deployments highlight the U.S. military’s flexibility and readiness to act worldwide on short notice.
READ: Iran Prepares Potential Retaliation Against Israel Through Proxy Forces In Iraq
In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) deployed its 900th Infantry Brigade to Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on November 2. This brigade, Israel’s largest infantry unit with a focus on urban combat, is expected to engage effectively with Hamas’ small, independent guerrilla cells, which have recently been the focus of IDF operations.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces in Lebanon are advancing with smaller units moving ahead of the main force, reflecting Hezbollah’s relatively weak defense in the region. Israeli troops have killed two key Hezbollah commanders in the Tyre area, with operations targeting high-ranking Hezbollah members continuing.
Israeli naval special operations forces recently captured a senior Hezbollah naval commander in Batroun, central Lebanon, according to an unnamed Israeli official.
These developments come as Iran signals potential retaliation against Israel following IDF strikes on Iranian infrastructure on October 25.
However, Iran’s exact response strategy remains uncertain. The ongoing U.S. deployments and increased regional activity by Israeli forces underscore the heightened tension and shifting military landscape in the Middle East as conflicts intensify.
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