The US announced on Monday that it is deploying a “small number” of additional troops to the Middle East as Israel significantly escalated airstrikes across Lebanon, leading to an unprecedented response from Hezbollah.
Currently, around 40,000 US troops are stationed in the region. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder did not specify the number of additional forces being sent, stating, “In light of the increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region.” He added that no further details would be provided.
On Monday, Israeli warplanes launched extensive strikes across southern and northern Lebanon, which Israel claims were aimed at Hezbollah targets. According to Lebanese authorities, the airstrikes have resulted in at least 356 deaths, including 21 children, and injured 1,246 others, forcing thousands to flee.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the attacks, calling them part of a plan to destroy Lebanese villages and towns and wipe out green spaces. Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari indicated that the army may target multiple Lebanese villages as far as 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the border.
Hezbollah responded by launching dozens of rockets at Israel’s Rafael Electronics Company near Haifa and at other military sites, including the Northern Corps reserve headquarters and the logistics base of the Galilee Formation.
This incident represented Hezbollah’s second assault on military locations in Haifa, coming after missile strikes on Sunday. The tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated significantly following a devastating Israeli airstrike on Friday that resulted in the deaths of at least 45 individuals in a Beirut suburb. Among the casualties were women, children, and 16 members of Hezbollah, including prominent leader Ibrahim Aqil and top commander Ahmed Wahbi.
The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel began after Israel’s war on Gaza, which has claimed over 41,400 lives, mostly women and children, following a Hamas-led cross-border attack last October.
