WASHINGTON: The United States government on Sunday reaffirmed its robust military presence in the Middle East after deploying reinforcements, following recent escalations in the region as Israel expands its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and continues its bombardment campaign in Gaza.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby described the US military deployment as “robust,” emphasizing its capability to defend American interests and support Israel. While Kirby did not provide specific details on troop numbers or locations, he noted that additional forces had been dispatched.
“There is already a very robust military capability to defend ourselves and to help defend Israel,” Kirby said on US broadcaster ABC.
The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and a Marine expeditionary unit to maintain operations in the eastern Mediterranean, alongside an increased presence of warplanes. “We will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities in the coming days,” stated Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder.
Concerns about a broader regional conflict have intensified as Israel targets Hezbollah, especially following the killing of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an airstrike in Beirut. Kirby expressed apprehension about the potential for the conflict to escalate into a wider war, while simultaneously affirming Israel’s right to defend itself against perceived threats.
“We have been concerned, almost since the beginning of this conflict, about it broadening, widening, becoming a regional war,” Kirby said.
Despite the growing tensions, Kirby noted that there were currently no plans for a mass evacuation of US citizens from Lebanon, though he urged Americans in the country to leave when possible.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military claimed on Sunday the airstrike that killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah this week in Beirut also killed more than 20 other members of the Lebanese group.
“More than 20 other members of varying ranks, who were present at the underground headquarters in Beirut located beneath civilian buildings, and were managing Hezbollah’s operations were also killed,” the military said in a statement.
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In a statement, the Israeli military identified several Hezbollah members killed in Friday’s strike, including Ibrahim Hussein Jazini and Samir Tawfiq Dib, both considered close associates of Nasrallah.
The military said that their proximity to the Hezbollah chief positioned them as significant figures in the organization’s day-to-day operations. “Due to their proximity to him, they served a significant role in the day-to-day operations of Hezbollah and Nasrallah in particular,” it said.
Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death on Saturday and, in a subsequent announcement, identified Ali Karake, the group’s top commander in southern Lebanon, as another casualty of the Friday strike. Other names listed by the Israeli military included Abed al-Amir Muhammad Sablini and Ali Naaf Ayoub.
In recent days, Israel has redirected its military focus from Gaza to Lebanon, following nearly a year of sporadic cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah, killing hundreds in Lebanon and displacing scores more.
Meanwhile, Israel carried out a fresh attack on Sunday against Hezbollah in southern Beirut.
The latest attack came days after a similar strike killed the group’s powerful leader Hassan Nasrallah, sending tensions soaring amid intensive Israeli strikes on the country’s east, south and south Beirut.
“Israel carried out an air strike on Beirut’s southern suburb,” said a Lebanese official.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported a “violent raid carried out by Israeli warplanes”, adding that ambulances had rushed to the area of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
