US President Joe Biden
US deploys ammunitions closer to Israel. In a gesture of support, US President Joe Biden ordered US ships and airplanes to deploy closer to Israel on Sunday.
Following attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the US has also supplied further military supplies.
The Pentagon announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean, as well as the expansion of fighter aircraft units in the region.
The United States, a major arms supplier to Israel, moved fast to reaffirm its support for Israel following Saturday’s unexpected onslaught from Gaza, promising “rock solid” assistance and advising all countries to remain out of the fight.
Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “conveyed that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days,” the White House said.
“The leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation,” it said in a statement.
The US president added, “pledged his full support for the Government and people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists.”
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict’s worst escalation in decades has claimed more than 600 lives on the Israeli side, the government press office said, while Gaza officials reported at least 370 deaths in Israeli air strikes.
Israel’s Netanyahu has steeled his shocked nation for what he called a long war ahead, with tens of thousands of Israeli forces already deployed to battle holdout Hamas forces and prepare a possible Gaza ground offensive.
The conflict has also stoked fears of a wider conflagration. Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement on Sunday, said it had fired shells and missiles at Israeli positions.
With tensions rising, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was sending forces to “bolster regional deterrence efforts” after discussions with Biden.
As well as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier, this deployment includes a guided missile cruiser and four guided misile destroyers, Austin said in a statement.
“The United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions,” Austin added.
The movement of US ships and planes and the aid to Israel “underscores the United States’ ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier that Biden ordered his administration to give Israel “everything it needs at this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas.”