The United States Department of Defense is putting additional troops on “prepare-to-deploy” status amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Pentagon had earlier put military forces on “high alert” after the surprise attack carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7.
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “placed approximately 2,000 personnel and a range of units on a heightened state of readiness through a prepare-to-deploy order,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.
U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin announced tonight that due to the recent Attacks by Pro-Iranian Militias across the Middle East and the Escalation we have Observed in Israel, the U.S. Army will be Deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery as well as… pic.twitter.com/d86YnrF2uQ
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 22, 2023
In addition, as reported by the open source military intelligence X account OSINT Defender, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery and additional Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile Batteries are now being sent to the region to assist in aerial defense.
Two U.S. Navy carrier groups were dispatched to the region in an effort to deter Iran and offer support to regional allies.
On October 8, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was dispatched to the eastern Mediterranean. Then, on October 14, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group was likewise sent to the eastern Mediterranean.
The Pentagon on Saturday issued a public briefing on its current military preparations, should the U.S. be drawn further into the armed conflict.
First, I redirected the movement of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Central Command area of responsibility. This carrier strike group is in addition to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It will further increase our force posture and strengthen our capabilities and ability to respond to a range of contingencies.
I have also activated the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery as well as additional Patriot battalions to locations throughout the region to increase force protection for U.S. forces.