US says it is sending more warships and bombers to the Middle East

• The US is sending warships and B-52 bombers to the Middle East amid rising tensions.
• Israel and Iran are stuck in a retaliatory cycle.
• Earlier, the US said it would also send a missile defense system and 100 more troops to Israel.

The United States is sending bombers and warships to the Middle East, while Iran and Israel trade threats of retaliatory strikes.

The Pentagon announced Friday that the United States will send missile defense destroyers, tanker aircraft and “several” long-range U.S. Air Force B-52 aircraft to the Middle East in the coming months.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of troops to defend Israel and de-escalate “through deterrence and diplomacy,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

“(Secretary Austin) continues to make clear that if Iran, its partners or its proxies use this moment to attack American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take all necessary measures to protect our people,” Ryder said.

The deployment followed Israel’s first-ever open attack on Iran on October 26, when Israel launched airstrikes inside the country. This attack was retaliation against Iran. launching a barrage of missiles against Israel earlier this month, which was itself a retaliatory attack on Israel. assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallahkey ally Iran, in September. Tensions between the two countries have risen sharply since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began last year.

Israeli airstrikes last week were initially met with a muted response from Iran, which appeared reluctant to further escalate the conflict. But Iran’s rhetoric in recent days has led to fears it could be planning a new attack.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a message on X on Saturday that the United States and Israel would receive a “crushing response” for their actions against Iran and its allies.

In October, the Pentagon said it had also ordered the stationing of the Terminal High Altitude Defense missile defense system and its associated crew of U.S. troops in Israel. The United States said it would send about 100 troops to operate the air defense system.

Ryder said the deployment of THAAD, as well as the deployment of new ships and jets together, represents the flexibility of the U.S. military to “deploy globally at short notice to address evolving national security threats.”