Pentagon: We continue to provide security assistance to Israel to enable tts self-defense
Washington DC (Quds News Network)- The US Department of Defense reiterated on Monday its commitment to providing what it described as security assistance to Israel, ensuring the occupation state can “defend itself”. The Pentagon confirmed that specialized forces have been deployed to the Middle East to support emergency planning and response efforts, as Israel is expanding its escalation.
The announcement comes as Israel conducts brutal airstrikes on Lebanon, resulting in over 270 deaths, while Hezbollah continues to target Israeli military sites in retaliation.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder clarified, “In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics.” Although Israel has indicated plans for potential operations in Lebanon, the US has not received detailed information on these plans.
Despite providing military aid, the Pentagon denied any involvement in Israel’s operational planning or execution, reaffirming its support is strictly for defense purposes. The US currently has about 40,000 troops in the region.
Washington claimed it is working to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of populations on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border. An American official told Al Jazeera that the deployed US forces specialize in emergency planning, including evacuation operations, as a precaution against a potential wider conflict.
