Following the leadership leader of Hamas’s killing in Iran this week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday ordered additional destroyers and other military personnel to the Middle East, according to the military.
More warships and fighter planes will also be sent to the area, and the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier will take the place of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. This move was anticipated prior to Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in the Iranian capital.
In a statement, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh stated, “The Department of Defense is still taking action to lessen the likelihood that Iran or its allies and proxies may escalate the situation in the region.”
The killing of Haniyeh is not mentioned by name in the U.S. military statement. After Haniyeh and a bodyguard were killed in an explosion at his home at around two in the morning local time on Wednesday (sixty-thirty p.m. ET on Tuesday), Iran has pledged to exact revenge on Israel.
Israel has not acknowledged killing Haniyeh. On targeted assassinations, it usually says nothing.
Concerns about a broader regional confrontation have also been raised by the death in the wake of Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel’s subsequent fight against it in Gaza.
Singh added in the statement that “more cruisers and destroyers capable of ballistic missile defense” had been ordered to the areas supervised by the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command.
A portion will be sent out alongside the USS Lincoln.
“Additionally, the Department is working to improve our preparedness for deploying more land-based ballistic missile defense,” a Pentagon press release stated.
In what Austin referred to as a “unprecedented” direct attack against the American ally, Iran deployed missiles and drones against Israel in April, but missile defenses, including those from American military forces and warships, shot them down.
Following the October 7 attacks, which were launched from Gaza, which is under Hamas control, Israel declared war on Hamas and its leaders. Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, has been described by Israel’s military as a “dead man walking.”
According to a summary of his comments released by the Pentagon, Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Friday and reaffirmed American support for Israel’s defense.
The Defense Department released a statement after the call, saying, “Secretary Austin emphasized that a de-escalation of tensions, especially through the conclusion of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement, would be advantageous to all of the region’s governments and that further escalation is not inevitable.”
“But he also emphasized that Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and other terrorist organizations funded by Iran should have no doubts about the United States’ determination given the extraordinary extent of American support for Israel since October 7,” added the statement.
This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his country will retaliate in the event of an assault.