The United States announced on Friday the deployment of additional military assets to the Middle East, including ballistic missile defense destroyers and long-range B-52 bomber aircraft, as a warning to Iran amid ongoing tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and Israel.
“Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder stated.
This deployment builds upon previous U.S. defense measures in the Middle East in support of Israel, including the THAAD missile defense system that was deployed to the country late last month, operated by American troops on the ground.
According to Ryder, the new forces “will begin to arrive in coming months.”
On October 26, Israel launched significant strikes against Iran, targeting its military infrastructure while deliberately avoiding critical nuclear and oil sites.
Iran has conducted two major attacks against Israel in 2024—one in April following a strike on its consulate in Damascus, which was attributed to Israel, and another in October that Tehran claimed was in retaliation for the assassination of leaders of armed groups it supports in the Middle East.
Observers are warning that the ongoing military operations between these regional rivals could escalate further.
