The United States announced on Friday its plan to send B-52 bombers, fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and Navy destroyers to the Middle East as part of a military reassessment, coinciding with the impending departure of the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group from the region.
According to a Pentagon statement, these deployments will occur in the coming months and highlight the flexibility of U.S. military operations globally. Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder emphasized that the U.S. will take necessary actions to protect its personnel if Iran or its allies target American interests in the area.
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In the past year, the U.S. has maintained up to two aircraft carriers in the Middle East amidst rising tensions since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023. The departure of the Lincoln will create a temporary gap in aircraft carrier presence until another is deployed.
This shift in U.S. military assets follows recent exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran, with Israel also engaged in conflicts with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as conducting strikes in Yemen against Iranian-aligned Houthi forces.
The U.S. has committed to defending Israel and ensuring the safety of its forces in the region, which have faced attacks from Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and off Yemen’s coast.
