WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM – The United States confirmed Monday that it is rushing additional troops to the Middle East as rapidly escalating violence between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon raised concern clashes could turn into a full-scale regional war.
Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder added that the troops would join the 40,000 American troops already in the area, without elaborating on the exact numbers.
The U.S. military added that on Monday, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, two Navy destroyers, and a cruiser set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, heading to the Sixth Fleet area in Europe.
Worthy News learned that the ships’ departure opens up the possibility that the U.S. could keep both the Truman and the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which is in the Arabian Gulf, in the region.
Their anticipated arrival came while Israeli forces increased airstrikes deep inside Lebanon while the U.S. State Department warned all Americans to leave as the risk of conflict spirals to levels not seen in years.
Tensions have reached boiling point in the last seven days and started to deteriorate when pagers and walkie-talkies owned by members of Hezbollah exploded in a coordinated attack last week, killing dozens and injuring thousands.
On Monday, hundreds of people were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which came in response to relentless attacks by Hezbollah.