The Pentagon mentioned the US will deploy extra warships and fighter jets to the Center East to assist defend Israel from potential assaults by Iran and its proxies.
Tensions stay excessive within the area following the assassinations in Iran of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and a key commander of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
The Pentagon mentioned missile protection forces have been in a state of readiness for enhanced deployment, including that its dedication to defending Israel was “ironclad.”
Iranian chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “extreme punishment” for Israel’s assassination of Haniyeh and declared three days of nationwide mourning.
The Hamas chief was killed in Tehran on Wednesday. Iran and its proxies in Gaza blamed Israel for the assault, however Israel has but to remark.
Haniyeh, 62, is extensively thought of the general chief of Hamas and performed a key position in negotiations geared toward reaching a ceasefire within the Gaza struggle.
Simply hours earlier than his demise, Israel claimed to have killed Fouad Shukr, the highest navy commander of Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon.
The Pentagon assertion mentioned the brand new deployment will “enhance the safety of U.S. forces…enhance help for Israel’s protection and…guarantee the US is ready to reply to a wide range of contingencies.”
The deployment will embody extra cruisers and destroyers with ballistic missile protection capabilities, the report mentioned.
Earlier than Iran launched an assault on Israel with drones and missiles on April 13, the US navy additionally stepped up its deployment. Israel and its allies practically shot down some 300 drones and missiles.
Israel has not commented immediately on the assault that killed Haniyeh. However Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned his nation had delivered “devastating blows” to its enemies in current days, together with the killing of Shuker in Beirut.
He warned Israelis that “difficult days are coming… We hear threats from all sides. We’re ready for any situation”.
Earlier, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singer mentioned the US didn’t consider an escalation was inevitable.
“I feel our message could be very direct, we actually do not need to see tensions escalate and we do consider there’s an exit right here and that may be a ceasefire,” Singh mentioned.
Netanyahu mentioned on Friday that an Israeli delegation would journey to Cairo within the coming days to barter a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal to launch hostages.
Hamas launched the struggle on October 7 when it attacked Israel, killing 1,200 individuals. Israel’s ongoing navy operations in Gaza have killed practically 40,000 individuals, in response to the Hamas-run well being ministry.
