US Air Force personnel in Iraq have been ordered to remain on standby in case of “on ground US involvement in the Israel Hamas war,” The Intercept reported on Tuesday, citing a Pentagon memo.
Circulated earlier this month, the memo instructs an unknown number of troops to be placed “on standby to forward deploy to support troops in the case of on-ground US involvement in the Israel Hamas war,” the news site reported.
The standby order applies to troops stationed in Iraq since last year, according to a separate Pentagon document seen by The Intercept.
“The documents obtained by The Intercept provide a stark reminder of the pervasive U.S. military presence in the Middle East, with personnel deployed to theaters where many Americans think the mission ended long ago — and how quickly those orders can be repurposed for new conflicts,” the Intercept reported.
Mixed Messages
The White House has stated on several occasions since October that its support for Israel would not involve American soldiers fighting alongside their Israeli counterparts.
But a mix of news reports and leaks indicated that the US might be involved in various, though unspecified capacities.
The US responded to Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Flood Operation on October 7 by immediately dispatching two aircraft carriers to the region and preparing 2,000 additional troops for deployment to the Middle East.
In a First since Start of Gaza War – Major Attack on US Military in Jordan
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on October 10 that “there is no intention to put US boots on the ground” in Israel or Gaza.
However, US special forces have been active in Israel since October, with senior official Christopher Maier telling reporters at the time that American commandos were “actively helping the Israelis to do a number of things.”
The Pentagon has also admitted to flying spy drones over Gaza “in support of hostage recovery efforts.”
Arab Resistance
Since the war began, US troops in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan have come under fire more than 150 times, from various Arab Resistance groups using regular drone and rocket barrages.
One such attack on an outpost in Jordan on Sunday killed three US soldiers and injured several dozen others.
Yemen’s Ansarallah Target American Ship in Largest Attack in Red Sea
American ships and warplanes have also launched several strikes against Ansarallah fighters in Yemen, in a bid to break the group’s blockade on Israel-linked merchant shipping passing through the Red Sea.
Ansarallah responded by targeting US commercial and military vessels in the area.
On Wednesday, the militants announced that they had fired multiple missiles at the destroyer USS Gravely.
US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, claimed that the Graveley shot down one incoming missile, and suffered no damage or casualties.
(RT, PC)
We The People object! our US Constitution is being shat upon by our own government. War for no reason? no. there is one reason. Israelica. the citizens have no control, and the government is out of hand. their despotism is blatant. it has to stop!