A B-52 assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., flies over an aerospace show in Malaysia, March 26, 2019. HEATHER REDMAN/U.S. AIR FORCE
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadrons, tanker aircraft, and several B-52 long-range strike bombers to the Middle East, the Department of Defense announced on November 1.
In a statement, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said that the assets were deployed to reaffirm the U.S. commitments to the protection of its citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defense of Israel, and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy.
These deployments build on the recent decision to deploy the THAAD missile defense system to Israel as well as the Department of Defense sustained Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit posture in the Eastern Mediterranean, the press secretary continued.
“These movements demonstrate the flexible nature of U.S. global defense posture and U.S. capability to deploy world-wide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats,” he added.
The deployment came amid heightened tensions with Iran which is reportedly preparing to respond to the October 26 Israeli attack on its territory.
Several Iranian military targets, including air defenses and missile sites, were hit during the attack, which also claimed the lives of four officers. The attack was in itself a response to a large-scale ballistic missile strike launched by Tehran against Israel on October 1.
“Secretary Austin continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the U.S. will take every measure necessary to defend our people,” Maj. Gen. Ryder noted in his statement.
Just a day before Austin ordered the deployment of additional assets in the Middle East, the Axios news site reported, citing two Israeli sources, that Israeli intelligence was preparing for an attack in the coming days involving a large number of ballistic missiles and suicide drones launched by Iran allies in Iraq, where U.S. forces are present.
Overall, the U.S. appears to be determined to go on with its support for Israel even at the cost of an all-out war with Iran and its allies in the Middle East.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
