U.S. defense officials reportedly selected roughly 2,000 troops to prepare for potential deployment to support Israel in the war against Hamas terrorists, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Defense Department did not say exactly where the troops would be deployed from, but some are already in the Middle East, while others are in Europe. The newspaper reports officials saying that they are not planning to have these troops serve in combat or as ground troops. They are tasked with being advisers, planners, and to provide medical support to Israel.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Friday from Israel that the U.S. would continue to coordinate with Israel as it works to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas amid the attacks, but made no mention of assigning specific troops.
Aircraft have been heading to U.S. military bases around the Middle East and special operations forces are now assisting Israel’s military .
For example, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group moved to the Eastern Mediterranean.
“As part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack on Israel, the Strike Group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87), and Carrier Air Wing 3, with nine aircraft squadrons, and embarked headquarters staffs,” Austin said.
The Eisenhower CSG will join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived earlier last week. The Ford CSG includes the USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. Earlier in the week, the U.S. Air Force announced deployment to the region of squadrons of F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft.
The first shipment of additional munitions has also already arrived.
