The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced Tuesday that approximately 2,000 personnel across various units are in a heightened state of readiness to increase the department's deterrence posture and ability to respond in the Middle East.
The new announcement aims to meet Israel's needs after the Hamas attack on the Hebrew state.
The Pentagon said in a statement that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has placed approximately 2,000 personnel across various units on a heightened state of readiness to bolster deterrence posture in the Middle East.
However, no decisions have been made to deploy any of those forces.
US media reported that the troops being readied for deployment would cover support roles, such as medical assistance and handling explosives.
The Washington Post quoted defense officials saying the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship in the United States Navy made up of about 4,000 Marines and sailors, will join the task force in the Mediterranean Sea and head near the Israeli shore, defense officials said.
The Bataan and the USS Carter Hall, another of the ships transporting the task force, were in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, having left Kuwait after the unprecedented attack by Hamas.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show Washington's support for its ally.
Biden will be on a mission to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from spreading to the Middle East.
Also, the top US general overseeing US forces in the Middle East, Michael Kurilla, made an unannounced trip to Israel on Tuesday, saying he hoped to ensure its military has what it needs as it fights a deepening war against the Palestinian group.
Kurilla’s trip is the latest by a senior US official to Israel ahead of an expected ground assault by Israel's military in Gaza and before Biden's visit.
According to Reuters, the US military is increasing its firepower in the region, aiming to prevent Iran and other Iran-backed groups from getting involved in the conflict as international fears of a broader regional war grow.
The Pentagon also rushes weapons to Israel, including air defenses and munitions.
"I'm here to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, particularly focused on avoiding other parties expanding the conflict," Kurilla told Reuters, which is traveling with him, in brief remarks before landing.
A US official told Reuters that Kurilla was scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Israel's military leadership, ensuring a clear understanding of the close US ally's defense requirements.
Kurilla was also expected to outline US military support to avoid expanding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
