(Ken Silva, Headline USA) The Pentagon has notified American troops to “be ready to deploy” to Israel to assist in the country’s counterinsurgency against Hamas, according to breaking media reports.
Fox News reported Monday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has put in “be ready to deploy” orders for a select number of American troops. Fox’s report followed an article from the Wall Street Journal, which reported that around 2,000 troops were selected this weekend for potential deployment.
“Top officials stressed that this deployment would not be for a combat role, but for advising and medically supporting Israeli forces,” Fox said.
Additionally, the Associated Press reported that the troops would “not be sent to Israel but could be sent to countries in the region.” The personnel that have been selected are reportedly from across the US armed services, and some are already in the Middle East while others are outside the region.
The U.S has also deployed two aircraft carriers into the region.
The Pentagon’s preparations come as Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground operation.
Politico reported last week that the U.S. decided not to send troops into Gaza to rescue hostages. But as antiwar.com’s Dave DeCamp noted, the issue could be revised, and the idea of the U.S. military entering Gaza has not been excluded as an option.
Biden’s preparations have already been met with opposition.
“I fully support Israel’s right to defend themselves and they are very good at handling that, but I do not support sending them our own U.S. military troops,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said on Twitter. “Our military should be defending our own border security from the invasion happening here.”
I fully support Israel’s right to defend themselves and they are very good at handling that, but I do not support sending them our own U.S. military troops.
Our military should be defending our own border security from the invasion happening here.https://t.co/5OXb05VxvC
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 16, 2023
Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.
