By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. navy mentioned on Sunday it was growing its air assist capabilities within the Center East and placing troops on a heightened readiness to deploy to the area because it warned Iran in opposition to increasing the continued battle.
The announcement got here two days after President Joe Biden directed the Pentagon to regulate U.S. pressure posture within the Center East amid intensifying concern that Israel’s killing of the chief of Iran-backed Hezbollah may immediate Tehran to retaliate.
“The United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict,” Pentagon spokesperson Main Normal Patrick Ryder mentioned in an announcement.
He additionally cautioned that if Iran or teams Tehran backs “use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people.”
The Pentagon assertion provided few clues as to the dimensions or scope of the brand new air deployment, saying solely that “we will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities in the coming days.”
Israel struck extra targets in Lebanon on Sunday, urgent Hezbollah with new assaults after killing the group’s chief, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and a string of its different prime commanders in an escalating navy marketing campaign.
The strikes have dealt a surprising succession of blows to Hezbollah after nearly a yr of cross-border hearth, killing a lot of its management and revealing gaping safety holes. Nevertheless it has additionally raised questions on Washington’s publicly declared objectives of containing the battle and safeguarding U.S. personnel all through the Center East.
White Home nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby (NYSE:) mentioned on Sunday that america is watching to see what Hezbollah does to attempt to fill its management vacuum, “and is continuing to talk to the Israelis about what the right next steps are.”
The U.S. State Division has but to order an evacuation from Lebanon. However final week, U.S. officers advised Reuters the Pentagon was sending a number of dozen extra troops to Cyprus to assist the navy put together for situations together with an evacuation of Individuals from Lebanon.
The Pentagon mentioned U.S. forces have been being made able to deploy, if wanted.
“(Austin) increased the readiness of additional U.S. forces to deploy, elevating our preparedness to respond to various contingencies,” Ryder mentioned in an announcement.
