THAAD system during a live-fire test on September 10, 2013 in the vicinity of the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll/ Reagan Test Site and surrounding areas in the western Pacific. U.S. Army\Missile Defense Agency
The United States will step up its military readiness in the Middle East, deploy more air defense systems throughout the region and alert additional forces that they may be deployed there soon, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on October 22.
In a statement, Austin said that he had ordered a series of steps that will “bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for U.S. forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel.”
“First, I redirected the movement of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Central Command area of responsibility. This carrier strike group is in addition to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It will further increase our force posture and strengthen our capabilities and ability to respond to a range of contingencies,” the Secretary of Defense said.
Austin added that he had also activated the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery as well as additional Patriot battalions to the Middle East.
“Finally, I have placed an additional number of forces on prepare to deploy orders as part of prudent contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability to quickly respond as required,” he said.
The Secretary of Defense concluded by saying that he will continue to assess U.S. forces posture requirements in the region and consider deploying additional capabilities as necessary.
The announcement came after Austin spoke with Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Hamas Movement.
The U.S. has been providing unconditional political and military support for Israel since the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack.
Following a bombing that left hundreds dead at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on October 17, which U.S. President Joe Biden blamed the Palestinians for, a number of U.S. bases in Iraq and neighboring Syria were attacked with rockets and drones.
The U.S. appears to be preparing to face more escalation in the Middle East. Attacks on U.S. forces in the region will likely dramatically increase once Israel begins its ground invasion of Gaza. Iran and is allies have already warned against reoccupying the Strip and displacing Palestinians from there.
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