“New US Forces for the Middle East May Assist with Evacuation If Necessary” – By Reuters

U.S. Deploys Troops to Middle East Amid Tensions in Lebanon

The recent announcement of a small U.S. troop deployment to the Middle East is aimed at preparing the military for various scenarios, including the potential evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon, according to two U.S. officials.

This move is deemed precautionary, occurring as President Joe Biden highlights the risk of escalating conflict and as Israel discusses the possibility of a ground operation in southern Lebanon.

While U.S. authorities have advised citizens to leave Lebanon, officials confirmed that the State Department has not mandated an evacuation of U.S. personnel there, nor have they requested military assistance for evacuating Americans at this time. In contrast, the United Kingdom announced plans to reposition troops to Cyprus to facilitate the evacuation of its nationals in Lebanon.

The additional U.S. forces, likely numbering in the dozens, are also being sent to Cyprus. The Pentagon has refrained from disclosing the number of troops or their specific mission details.

Israel’s military chief indicated that airstrikes in Lebanon would persist, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and setting the stage for a possible ground assault by Israeli forces. Recent Israeli airstrikes have focused on Hezbollah leaders and struck numerous sites deep within Lebanon, prompting displacement for hundreds of thousands in the border region, while Hezbollah has retaliated with rocket attacks into Israel.

The Biden administration is attempting to contain the conflict to Gaza, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions to the Israel-Lebanon border crisis. This call for diplomacy has been reinforced by discussions between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Experts express concerns that Iran may not remain uninvolved if Hezbollah’s existence were threatened, raising the possibility that U.S. troops could become targets across the Middle East should a regional conflict ensue.