U.S sending thousands more troops and aircraft to the Middle East amid fears of all-out war as Israel invades Lebanon

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Posted on 10/01/2024 3:12:23 AM PDT by Angelino97

The Israeli military says it has begun a 'limited, localized' operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

It said it was carrying out 'targeted ground raids' in villages close to the Israeli border. The targets, it said, pose an 'immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.'

It announced early Tuesday that the operation has been planned in recent months and was launched after approval by political leaders.

The Israeli military launched small ground raids against Hezbollah and sealed off communities along its northern border on Monday as Israeli artillery pounded southern Lebanon and signals grew that more forces could soon be sent across the border to fight the Iran-backed militants.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is sending a 'few thousand' troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to defend Israel if necessary, the Pentagon said Monday.

The announcement follows word that Israel has already launched limited raids across the border into Lebanon.

The additional forces would raise the total number of troops in the region to as many as 43,000.

The increased presence will involve multiple fighter jet and attack aircraft squadrons, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters. U.S. officials said the total includes small numbers of other troops to augment the presence as well.

The additional personnel includes squadrons of F-15E, F-16, and F-22 fighter jets and A-10 attack aircraft, and the personnel needed to support them.

The jets were supposed to rotate in and replace the squadrons already there. Instead, both the existing and new squadrons will remain in place to double the airpower on hand.

On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that he was temporarily extending the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and its embarked air wing in the region. A U.S. official said the extension will be for about a month.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...

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the U.S. is sending a 'few thousand' troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to defend Israel if necessary, the Pentagon said Monday.

1 posted on 10/01/2024 3:12:23 AM PDT by Angelino97

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