and will be expected to reimburse the US government for your transportation to a safe location. You will be responsible for the costs of onward travel from that safe location to the United States,” the advisory further read.
The United States will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy ships to West Asia in order to defend Israel, the US Department of Defence said.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh on Friday said that the deployment will be in response to threats from Iran and Iranian-backed militias. Washington is also taking steps to increase its readiness to deploy more land-based ballistic missile defence, Pentagon said.
The move comes as the US anticipates potential retaliation from Iran over the recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Tehran and its proxies have vowed revenge for the killing of Haiyeh and a top Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, in Lebanon.
Following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, the United States pledged to help defend the nation. In April, when Iran and Iranian-backed groups launched strikes at Israel, the United States led a coalition that helped defend the country from armed drones and missiles.
Austin has ordered adjustments to US military posture designed to improve US force protection, increase support for the defence of Israel, and ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies, the Pentagon statement read.
As per a White House readout on August 1, US President Biden spoke to Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu and “reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.”Biden discussed efforts to support Israel’s defence against threats, including against ballistic missiles and drones, to include new defensive US military deployments. Together with this commitment to Israel’s defence, the President stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to de-escalate broader tensions in the region, the White House said. (ANI)