Oct 22, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
The United
States warned against any "escalation" in the Middle East in the wake
of Israel's war on Gaza, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday, hours
after the Pentagon moved to step up military readiness in the region.
The United States has seen a "prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops" in the region, Austin said Sunday, adding that the US military was preparing for "the ability to respond."
"If
any group or any country is looking to widen this conflict and take advantage
of this very unfortunate situation that we see, our advice is: don't," he
told ABC News.
"We
maintain the right to defend ourselves and we won't hesitate to take the
appropriate action," he added.
His
comments came hours after the Pentagon said it was upping readiness in the
region in response to "recent escalations by Iran and its proxy
forces."
Austin
ordered the activation of air defense systems and notified additional forces
that they may be deployed soon.
Austin did
not say how many US troops would be added to those already in the region.
The
Pentagon's moves came after what Austin had earlier described in a statement as
"detailed discussions" with President Joe Biden.
"These
steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for
US forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel," Austin
said.
The steps
continued the Biden administration's response since Hamas militants in the Gaza
Strip stormed Israel on October 7, taking more than 200 captives and killing at
least 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.
Tensions
rising
Israel has
since vowed to destroy Hamas, and says around 1,500 of the group's fighters
were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area initially
under attack.
Austin said
he had activated deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
battery and additional Patriot battalions "throughout the region."
"Finally,
I have placed an additional number of forces on prepare-to-deploy orders as
part of prudent contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability
to quickly respond as required," Austin said.
Tensions
are rising along Israel's northern border with Lebanon after the Israeli army
traded fire with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new
front opening as Israel battles Hamas.
In south
Lebanon on Saturday, Hezbollah said four of its fighters were killed.
Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said one of its fighters was also
killed.
Armed
factions close to Iran have threatened to attack US interests in Iraq over
Washington's support for Israel.
Multiple
Iraqi bases used by US-led coalition troops have been targeted in several
attacks in recent days.
Israel's
military said Saturday it would intensify strikes on Hamas-controlled Gaza
ahead of a planned ground invasion.
The
military has pounded Gaza with relentless strikes in response to Hamas's
October 7 attack.
The bombing
campaign has killed more than 4,650 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according
to the Palestinian health ministry, and reduced swaths of the densely populated
territory to ruins.
A first
trickle of aid entered the Palestinian enclave from Egypt on Saturday, but the
20 trucks permitted to cross have been described as a "drop in the
ocean" given the needs of 2.4 million residents.
On
Saturday, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem vowed that "Israel
will pay a high price" whenever it starts a ground offensive in the Gaza
Strip, adding that his militant group based in Lebanon already is "in the
heart of the battle."
The daily Star
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