CONFLICT
VS versterkt troepenmacht in Midden-Oosten
October 3, 2024 - The Pentagon says it is sending a “few thousand” additional troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to be prepared to defend Israel if necessary.
The additional forces would raise the total number of troops in the region to as many as 43,000.
The additional personnel includes squadrons of F-15E, F-16 and F-22 fighter jets and A-10 attack aircraft, and the personnel needed to support them. The jets were supposed to rotate in and replace the squadrons already there. Instead, both the existing and new squadrons will remain in place to double the airpower on hand.
The move comes as Israel continues its invasion of southern Lebanon in a dramatic escalation of its conflict with Hezbollah.