United States Deploys Additional Military Assets to Middle East

AFP

Washington: 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.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder stated, “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.”

These additional resources build on previous U.S. defense deployments in support of Israel, which included a THAAD missile defense system deployed to the country last month, operated by American troops on the ground. Ryder indicated that the new forces “will begin to arrive in coming months.”

Israel launched significant strikes against Iran on October 26, targeting military infrastructure while avoiding critical nuclear and oil sites.

Iran has executed two major attacks against Israel in 2024, one in April following an attack on its consulate in Damascus blamed on Israel, and another in October in response to the assassination of leaders of armed groups it supports in the Middle East.

Observers warn that continued military operations between the regional rivals could escalate further.

Lebanon Accuses Israel of Rejecting Truce

Lebanon’s prime minister accused Israel on Friday of rejecting a ceasefire after the Israeli military bombed Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut for the first time this week.

In Gaza, where Israel has conducted a major offensive in the north for nearly a month, a Hamas official stated that the militant group had rejected a proposal for a short-term truce.

United Nations officials described the situation in northern Gaza as “apocalyptic,” warning that the entire population is at risk of death.

Israel has been engaged in a two-front war since late September, fighting against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas, which launched the Gaza war by attacking Israel on October 7 last year.

At least ten strikes targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs before dawn after Israel issued evacuation warnings. The raids resulted in massive destruction in the affected areas, leveling dozens of buildings, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA).

Lebanon’s health ministry later reported that 52 people were killed and 72 injured due to Israeli strikes in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel region, where the Israeli army had not issued evacuation warnings.

The NNA also reported strikes on Bint Jbeil, Tyre, and Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military stated that it continues operations against both Hezbollah and Hamas.

Strikes on Beirut Suburbs Hit

The strikes on Lebanon occurred a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US officials to discuss a potential deal to end the war against Hezbollah, ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the Israeli attacks, asserting that the renewed bombings of Beirut’s southern suburbs and strikes on other areas confirm Israel’s rejection of efforts to secure a ceasefire.

In Baalbek, smoke billowed from a house in the city’s Douris neighborhood after Israeli warplanes conducted strikes on Thursday and Friday.

Local residents reported significant damage to residential areas, including injuries to vulnerable individuals. Baalbek, home to UNESCO-designated Roman temples, has seen its cultural heritage sites placed in “deep peril” due to the ongoing conflict.

On Thursday, Netanyahu told US envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk that any ceasefire deal with Hezbollah must ensure Israel’s long-term security.

A US-brokered plan reportedly under consideration would see Hezbollah withdraw 30 kilometers from the border, with Israeli forces pulling back and the Lebanese army patrolling alongside U.N. peacekeepers.

Thais Killed in Conflict

Thailand’s foreign minister confirmed that four Thai farm workers were among those killed by rocket fire on northern Israel on Thursday. A total of seven people lost their lives due to two separate barrages, according to local officials and medics.

Since fighting in Lebanon escalated on September 23, following nearly a year of tit-for-tat exchanges which Hezbollah stated were in support of Hamas, Israeli strikes have resulted in at least 1,911 fatalities in Lebanon, based on an AFP tally of health ministry figures. The Israeli military reported 37 soldiers have been killed in Lebanon since ground operations began on September 30.

The World Health Organization expressed deep concern about Israeli attacks on healthcare workers and facilities in Lebanon, emphasizing that they are “not a target.”

The war has drawn in Iran-backed groups throughout the Middle East and has led to direct attacks between Israel and Iran. Late Friday, the Israeli military announced it had intercepted seven drones launched from “several fronts,” without specifying their origin.

On October 26, Israel bombed military targets in Iran, resulting in the deaths of four servicemen, in retaliation for around 200 missiles launched against Israel by the Islamic Republic on October 1.

Analysts indicate that Israel inflicted severe damage on Iranian air defenses and missile capabilities, suggesting the possibility of further large-scale action against Iran.

‘Under Siege’ in North Gaza

In northern Gaza, the Israeli military reported that it “eliminated” dozens of militants in Jabalia. AFPTV images from the adjacent district of Beit Lahia depicted men using blankets to carry apparently deceased bodies through streets littered with garbage following an Israeli strike. Gaza’s health ministry reported at least nine fatalities due to strikes on Jabalia and the central Gaza area of Nuseirat.

The heads of UN agencies described the unfolding situation in north Gaza as “apocalyptic,” stating, “The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue.”

Separately, the WHO announced that a second round of child polio vaccinations would commence in north Gaza on Saturday, after Israeli bombings halted the initial drive.

US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators have attempted for months to broker a truce and secure a hostages-for-prisoners exchange for Gaza. A member of Hamas’s political bureau indicated that the group has rejected a proposal for a short-term truce from Egypt and Qatar, citing its failure to include a lasting ceasefire.

The US State Department reported that Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed de-escalation measures for Gaza and Lebanon with Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.

They addressed steps to end the war and facilitate the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, along with the “dire status of humanitarian conditions” in the territory.

The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,206 individuals, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has claimed 43,259 lives in Gaza, most of them civilians, based on figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.