On September 30th, President Biden shared his urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon during a statement delivered from the White House. This plea comes as the Department of Defense announced plans to deploy “thousands” of additional troops to the Middle East, aimed at enhancing security and providing support to Israel if needed. Reports have indicated that Israeli forces have crossed into Lebanon to conduct limited operations.
With this troop increase, the total number of U.S. forces in the region is expected to reach around 43,000.
During a briefing, Defense Department spokesperson Sabrina Singh informed reporters that the additional deployment will include multiple squadrons of fighter jets and attack aircraft. U.S. officials have also confirmed that this overall deployment will include a small contingent of troops.
The announcement follows a wave of recent attacks in Lebanon, including the assassination of Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, which have heightened tensions across the region as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates.
The new personnel will consist of squadrons featuring F-15E, F-16, F-22 fighter jets, and A-10 attack aircraft, along with the essential support staff for their operations. Rather than simply replacing the currently deployed squadrons, all existing units will remain in place alongside the new forces, effectively doubling the local air power.
On the same day, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed a temporary extension for the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and its associated Air Wing, with indications that this extension might last about a month. Meanwhile, the USS Harry S. Truman departed from Norfolk, Virginia, on September 23rd, heading toward Europe. It’s anticipated to arrive in the Mediterranean soon, further increasing the naval presence in the region.
In a discussion on October 1st at the White House, President Biden asserted, “I know more than you do” regarding the evolving situation involving Israel and Hezbollah, especially about plans for a limited ground invasion of Lebanon after nearly a year of conflict. He reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire, expressing, “I’m very satisfied that they should stop, and we should have a ceasefire now.”
