WASHINGTON, USA: A dozen F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Theodore Roosevelt have been deployed to a military base in the Middle East region.
This move is part of the Pentagon’s strategy to defend Israel from potential attacks by Iran and its proxies, as well as to protect U.S. troops stationed in the area. Alongside these jets, an E-2D Hawkeye surveillance aircraft was also dispatched from the carrier in the Gulf of Oman, arriving at the undisclosed base on Monday, according to a U.S. official.
The increased military presence, ordered by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, comes amid heightened concerns following the recent assassinations of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, acts attributed to Israeli strikes. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are further intensifying regional tensions.
While the deployment of the Navy jets is expected to be temporary, it underscores the urgency of the situation. A squadron of Air Force F-22 fighter jets from Alaska is also en route to the same base, anticipated to arrive within days. The duration of their joint presence at the base will likely depend on developments in the region over the coming days.
In addition to these troop movements, U.S. officials have released more information about a recent rocket attack on a military base in Iraq, which injured five U.S. service members and two contractors. The attack, carried out by militants targeted the Al-Asad air base, where the injured personnel are being treated. While two of the injured were evacuated, all seven are reported to be in stable condition.
This rocket attack is part of a broader pattern of increased strikes on U.S. forces by militants in Iraq and Syria. These groups had resumed their attacks following a period of relative calm after a strike on a base in Jordan in late January, which killed three American soldiers and led to a series of U.S. retaliatory strikes. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for these militias, has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks between October and January, citing them as retaliation for U.S. support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza and as part of their efforts to expel U.S. troops from the region.
The deployment of U.S. military assets and the recent uptick in militia attacks underscore the volatile nature of the current situation in the Middle East. As the U.S. bolsters its defences and prepares for potential escalation, the international community watches closely, concerned about the implications for regional and global stability.
