In light of increasing tensions in the Middle East amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a late Saturday announcement, revealed the United States’ strategic response. The U.S. will redeploy one of its carrier strike groups to the Persian Gulf and will also dispatch additional air defense systems to the region. Furthermore, Secretary Austin has placed more U.S. forces on “prepare to deploy orders,” without specifying the exact numbers. Earlier this week, he had ordered 2,000 troops to be ready for potential deployment in the Middle East.
This decision was made following discussions with President Biden regarding recent escalations involving Iran and its proxy forces throughout the Middle East. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with its strike group, initially destined for the eastern Mediterranean Sea to join the USS Gerald R. Ford, will now be redirected to the Persian Gulf, as disclosed by Secretary Austin.
Additionally, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile battery and Patriot missile defense system battalions have been ordered to deploy to the Persian Gulf to enhance regional security.
