US Increases Military Equipment in Middle East After Ismail Haniyeh Killing
The Middle East has seen more military equipment after Iran vowed to retaliate against Israel for killing the Hamas leader. The Navy is adding more cruisers and destroyers to counter ballistic missiles.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday ordered more destroyers and other military assets to be sent.
The aircraft carrier USS Lincoln will replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt. That was supposed to be done before Ismail Haniyeh was killed. But now additional destroyers and fighter jets will also be sent to the region.
Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, said:
“The Department of Defense continues to take steps to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or Iran’s partners and proxies”
The statement did not specifically mention Haniyeh’s killing.
What happened earlier
Iran vowed to take revenge on Israel after Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed in a blast at his compound around 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
There was no confirmation from Israel that Haniyeh had been killed. That was expected, as it is usually tight-lipped about targeted killings.
The killing also raised concerns about a widening regional conflict following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, a terrorist group backed by Iran, and Israel’s subsequent war against the group in the Gaza Strip.
Military in the Middle East
“Additional cruisers and destroyers capable of carrying ballistic missile defenses,” Singh said in a statement.
Some of those will be deployed from the USS Lincoln.
“The department is also taking steps to enhance our readiness to deploy additional ground-based missile defenses,” the Pentagon said in a statement. In April, missile defense systems, including U.S. military forces and warships, shot down missiles and drones launched by Iran against Israel, which Austin called an “unprecedented” direct attack on a U.S. ally.
Israel declared war on Hamas and its leaders after the Oct. 7 attacks launched from Hamas-controlled Gaza. The Israeli military declared Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar “a dead man walking.”
On Friday, Austin called Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to reaffirm U.S. support for Israel’s defense.
The Pentagon said in a summary:
“Secretary Austin highlighted that further escalation is not inevitable and that all countries in the region would benefit from a de-escalation in tensions, including through completing a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that if Israel is attacked, it will respond.