The US is bracing for Iran to make good on its vow to
respond to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran - one in a
series of killings of senior figures in the Palestinian militant group as the
war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had approved sending
additional Navy cruisers and destroyers-- which can shoot down ballistic
missiles-- to the Middle East and Europe. The US is also sending an additional
squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East.
"Austin
has ordered adjustments to US military posture designed to improve US force
protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the
United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies," the
Pentagon said in a statement.
There had been speculation that the Pentagon might not
replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group in the Middle East once
it completed its ongoing deployment. But Austin decided to rotate in the USS
Abraham Lincoln Carrier strike group to replace it.
The Pentagon statement added it would increase readiness to
deploy more land-based ballistic missile defenses.
The US military had intensified deployments prior to April
13, when Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory with drones and missiles.
Still, the threat from Hezbollah in Lebanon could present unique challenges to
any efforts by the United States to intercept drones and missiles given the
group's vast arsenal and immediate proximity to Israel.
At the
time, Israel successfully knocked down almost all of the roughly 300
drones and missiles with the help of the United States and other allies.
Biden, in a phone call on Thursday with Netanyahu, discussed
new US defensive military deployments to support Israel against threats such as
missiles and drones, the White House said.
Earlier, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the US did
not believe escalation was inevitable.
"I think we are being very direct in our messaging that
certainly we don't want to see heightened tensions and we do believe there is
an off ramp here and that is that ceasefire deal," Singh said.
