Michael D. Carroll AND Amir Daftari
The U.S. is sending an additional "few thousand" troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to be prepared to defend Israel if necessary, the Pentagon said Monday.
The increased presence support multiple fighter jet squadrons, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters during a press briefing.
It follows recent strikes in Lebanon and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a significant escalation in the war in the Middle East, this time between Israel and Hezbollah. There are fears Israel could launch a ground invasion of Lebanon, significantly escalating the conflict.
The additional deployment includes squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16, A-10, and F-22 fighter jets, along with the personnel needed to support them. The jets were originally scheduled to rotate in and replace the squadrons already stationed there. Instead, both the existing and new squadrons will remain in place to double the airpower on hand, enhancing U.S. military capabilities in the region.
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