US is sending more troops to the Middle East as violence rises between Israel and Hezbollah [View all]
The Associated Press
BREAKING: The U.S. will send additional troops to the Middle East amid escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Pentagon says.
12:05 PM · Sep 23, 2024
US is sending more troops to the Middle East as violence rises between Israel and Hezbollah
By TARA COPP and LOLITA C. BALDOR
Updated 12:24 PM EDT, September 23, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. is sending additional troops to the Middle East in response to a sharp spike in violence between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon that has raised the risk of a greater regional war, the Pentagon said Monday.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would provide no details on how many additional forces or what they would be tasked to do. The U.S. currently has about 40,000 troops in the region.
In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, Im not going to comment on or provide specifics.
The new deployments come after significant strikes by Israeli forces against targets inside Lebanon that have killed hundreds and as Israel is preparing to conduct further operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday warned Lebanese civilians in a videotaped message to evacuate their homes ahead of further airstrikes. He spoke as Israeli warplanes continued to strike alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon.
The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases.
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