The U.S. Department of Defense remains steadfast in its commitment to deterring aggression in the Middle East and supporting Israel’s defense, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. This announcement follows two conversations over the weekend between Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant regarding Israel’s response to attacks from Lebanese Hezbollah.
After Hezbollah, backed by Iran, launched a drone and rocket attack on Israel, the Israeli military conducted preemptive strikes against targets in southern Lebanon. These actions were taken independently by Israel, with the U.S. providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support but refraining from direct military involvement, Ryder clarified.
Secretary Austin reaffirmed the U.S.’s unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense and emphasized the nation’s readiness to support Israel against threats from Iran and its regional allies. Additionally, Austin underscored the U.S.’s focus on de-escalating regional tensions and securing a cease-fire to facilitate the release of hostages and bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.
In response to the escalating situation, the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has joined the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, enhancing the U.S. military presence in the region. This bolstered deployment, including Air Force F-22 Raptors and the USS Georgia, an Ohio-class cruise missile submarine, signals the U.S.’s resolve to defend Israel and protect its own forces from potential threats.
While the U.S. remains prepared for various contingencies, Ryder emphasized that the goal is de-escalation, not further escalation, in the region. The U.S. continues to push for a cease-fire and the release of hostages as part of broader efforts to stabilize the situation.–News Desk