Following the initial terror attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, the United States Department of Defense has made the decision to put more troops on “prepare-to-deploy”. As the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, military forces have remained on “high alert”.
The Pentagon has placed approximately 2,000 personnel and several units on a heightened state of readiness through a prepare-to-deploy order. To further bolster defense efforts, two US Navy carrier groups have been sent to the region as well as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Batteries and Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile Batteries.
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin announced tonight that due to the recent Attacks by Pro-Iranian Militias across the Middle East and the Escalation we have Observed in Israel, the U.S. Army will be Deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery as well as… pic.twitter.com/d86YnrF2uQ
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 22, 2023
On Saturday, October 21, the Pentagon issued a public briefing on its current military preparations for potential conflict with pro-Iran forces in the region. Task and Purpose reported that two drone attacks took place at Al-Asad Air Base in Western Iraq on Wednesday which resulted in slight injuries to U.S. troops while damaging or destroying multiple drones.
Subsequently, there was another drone attack at Al-Harir Air Base where no casualties were reported according to CENTCOM’s statement about defending U.S. interests against threats from Iran or other parties attempting to draw America into regional war conflicts.
The USS Carney (DDG-64), a guided missile destroyer also shot down three missiles and several drones fired from Houthi controlled territory in Yemen on Thursday without any casualties or damages reported per Brigadier General Pat Ryder’s press briefing for reporters that day.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims responsibility for the latest rocket attack on Ain Alasad Airbase, western #Iraq. pic.twitter.com/NciM55S7Jq
— Tammuz Intel (@Tammuz_Intel) October 19, 2023
In an effort to reduce further Iranian aggression, Saudi Prince Turki al Faisal condemned Hamas’ attack against Israel and left open possibilities for normalizing relations between countries in the region–which could serve as a key counterbalance against potential Iranian hostility towards American interests abroad.
In addition, diplomatic efforts are being made globally to isolate Iran and prevent them from directly entering into armed conflicts with other nations including those with close ties with America.
