The United States has announced that it is sending a small number of additional troops to the Middle East as Israel intensifies airstrikes across Lebanon, prompting unprecedented retaliatory attacks from Hezbollah.
Currently, approximately 40,000 US troops are stationed in the region. Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder did not disclose the specific number of additional forces being deployed.
“In light of 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,” Ryder stated during a press briefing.
Israeli warplanes conducted extensive strikes throughout Lebanon on Monday, targeting areas in the south and extending into the north, with Israel claiming the strikes are aimed at Hezbollah targets. Lebanese authorities report that at least 356 people, including 21 children, have been killed and over 1,246 others injured due to the attacks, forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, condemned the Israeli strikes, stating, “The Israeli aggression is a scheme aimed at destroying Lebanese villages, towns and eradicating all green spaces.” Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari noted that the army may extend its operations to numerous Lebanese villages located up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the border.
In response, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets targeting Israel’s Rafael Electronics Company north of Haifa, as well as military sites including the reserve headquarters of the Northern Corps and a logistics base in the Ami’ad camp. This marks Hezbollah’s second targeting of military sites in Haifa within a short span, having launched missiles at the city on Sunday.
Tensions escalated further following a deadly airstrike on Friday that killed at least 45 individuals, including women and children, in a suburb of Beirut. Hezbollah confirmed that at least 16 of its members, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and top commander Ahmed Wahbi, were among those killed in the Israeli airstrike.
The ongoing conflict has seen Hezbollah and Israel engaged in cross-border warfare since the recent onset of the Israeli war on Gaza, which has claimed over 41,400 lives, predominantly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last October.