US puts 2,000 troops on high alert due to escalation in Israel

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin placed about 2,000 military personnel and a number of units on high alert due to the situation in the Middle East. reported Pentagon press office.

The department explained that the deployment order enhances the ability to quickly respond to the changing security environment in the Middle East.

“No decisions have been made at this time regarding the deployment of any forces. The Minister will continue to assess the disposition of our forces and maintain close contact with allies and partners,” the statement emphasizes.

Austin also extended the deployment of the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group in the Sixth Fleet zone, which is stationed in the Mediterranean Sea.

October 16 The Wall Street Journal, citing US defense officials reportedthat the US military has selected about 2,000 troops to prepare for a potential deployment to Israel. According to the publication, military personnel are tasked with providing advisory and medical assistance – they are not intended to perform combat missions. It was then reported that not a single infantryman received the order to be ready. The newspaper noted that the Pentagon’s decision indicates that it is preparing to support Israeli troops if Israel launches a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

October 8 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedthat Washington is considering Israeli requests for additional military assistance. The White House later reported that the U.S. will send Additional help for Israel. Same day at the Pentagon reportedthat the administration of US President Joe Biden has decided to send an aircraft carrier group led by the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean.

On October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel. The Israeli army responded by launching an operation called “Iron Swords,” and the government announced that the country had entered a state of war. According to the latest data, the death toll during the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has exceeded 4,000 people, more than half of them are Palestinians.