By The Pentagon announced on Monday that it is increasing its military presence in the Middle East amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. This decision comes after Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon resulted in at least 274 deaths and over 1,000 injuries, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stated, “In light of increased tensions 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 forces already in the region.” He did not provide specific details regarding the number of troops deployed, citing operational security.
Currently, approximately 40,000 U.S. troops are stationed in the region, a presence that has been reinforced since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, aimed at containing the ongoing conflict. A U.S. official, who requested anonymity, described the new deployment as an “insurance policy” rather than a sign that American troops are preparing for imminent combat.
The Israeli airstrikes on Monday marked the most extensive assault on Lebanon since the end of its civil war in 1990, affecting areas from the southern border with Israel to northern regions near Syria. Israeli forces claimed to have struck 800 targets, including sites believed to be housing weapons for Hezbollah. Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi referred to the operation as a “proactive defense” against Hezbollah’s intentions to attack.
In a related move, thousands of Lebanese residents received phone calls from the Israeli military instructing them to evacuate Hezbollah positions. Lebanon’s information minister, Ziad Makary, labeled these calls as “psychological warfare” and refused to evacuate the ministry.
The tensions escalated further following an attack linked to Israel that involved the explosion of pagers and walkie-talkies across Lebanon, resulting in 37 fatalities and heightening fears of an all-out war.
