US troops to Israel... in anticipation of escalation
Washington, Agencies: The Israeli website Walla! reported that the United States is preparing to send additional troops and aircraft to Israel in the coming weeks as part of preparations for a potential escalation in the Middle East. This comes amid the US strengthening its military presence in the region, with recent reports indicating the deployment of additional reinforcements to the Middle East, including troops and naval units, amid rising tensions with Iran.
Citing unnamed security sources, the website stated that the US military currently has approximately 3,000 soldiers deployed across Israel, whose duties include operating air defense systems, as well as pilots, support crews, logistical forces, and personnel working at military headquarters. It added that the US military has been conducting routine troop rotations in recent weeks, coinciding with the end of deployment periods for units in the region. At the same time, it noted that additional forces and aircraft are scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks “as part of preparations for an escalation in the Middle East.”
Walla! quoted a senior Israeli security official, who wished to remain anonymous, as saying that Israel’s enemies “realize that Israel’s response this time will be highly aggressive.” According to the website, the Israeli military continues its preparations for the possibility of a new confrontation with Iran or a rapid deterioration of the situation, amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington. It added that part of these preparations focuses on the nature of operations Israel might employ in the event of a wide-scale confrontation and the targets that could be struck inside Iran.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said yesterday that Iran has an opportunity to voluntarily abandon its nuclear program, otherwise the United States may be forced to impose that outcome by force. These remarks came a day after Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Qalibaf announced that Tehran had recently received proposals from the Americans through intermediaries. In the same context, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran is serious about finding diplomatic solutions and is also serious about defending itself.
Araghchi, in remarks reported by Iranian media during a meeting with ambassadors and heads of foreign missions in Tehran, stated that his country had presented a plan at the UN General Assembly to resolve disputes and end ongoing confrontations with the United States. He emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz would be fully reopened within seven days if Washington accepted Tehran’s conditions and canceled what it described as hostile measures.
