Middle East conflict: US to send additional jets, warships as Iran threatens Israel

The United States will send additional jets and warships to the Middle East amid escalating tension in the region following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.

Tensions mounted after Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed ‘harsh punishment’ against Israel following the death of the Hamas political leader.

Though Israel did not comment on the issue, Iran blamed the country for the attack.

The Hamas leader’s death was announced just hours after Israel said its security forces killed Hezbollah’s most senior military commander Fuad Shukr “Sayyid Muhsan”.

Speaking on the fresh deployment, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said in a statement: “To that end, Secretary Austin (United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin) has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies.”

The statement said to maintain a carrier strike group presence in the Middle East, the Secretary has ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, currently on deployment in the Central Command area of responsibility.

Additionally, Secretary Austin has ordered additional ballistic missile defence-capable cruisers and destroyers to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command regions.

“The Department is also taking steps to increase our readiness to deploy additional land-based ballistic missile defense,” the statement said.

The Secretary has also ordered the deployment of an additional fighter squadron to the Middle East, reinforcing US’ defensive air support capability.

The Middle East region became tensed after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year and killed 1,200 people.

Israel responded by launching the ongoing military operation in Gaza.