US sends more combat aircraft to Middle East to protect Israel from Iran

The US is preparing to send additional combat aircraft to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region, the New York Times writes.

According to the newspaper, the plan stems from the possibility of an Iranian strike on Israel following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Palestinian movement Hamas, in Tehran.

A US military official told the paper that "American forces in the Middle East were taking ‘necessary measures’ to increase combat readiness."

How many planes to send is still being worked out, the New York Times notes.

Lloyd Austin, US defence secretary, “has ordered adjustments to US military posture designed to improve US force protection, to increase support for the defence of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies”, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a statement. Austin directed additional warships that can shoot down ballistic missiles and fighter jets to the region as well as to Europe, she said. The US already has other military resources in the region, such as the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship that can help with quick responses and possible evacuations.

Three other officials, two Israeli and one American, told Al-Monitor that high-ranking US military officials in the Middle East were caught off guard by the assassination of Haniyeh. Iranian officials have said they will consult with their proxies before taking action. Two US military sources who spoke to Security Briefing on condition of anonymity said conventional strikes like Iran’s April 13 massive drone and missile barrage against Israel are likely.

Lebanese Hezbollah, Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen’s Houthi rebels may also join in the anticipated attack, particularly given the recent high-profile Israeli strikes on their turf. This time, however, the barrage may be heavier in a bid to overwhelm US-led attempts to collectively defend Israeli airspace.

The fusillade of more than 300 missiles and drones fired by Iran and its proxies in April was largely intercepted by Israeli air defenses backed by US, UK, French and Jordanian fighter aircraft as well as US Navy destroyers, all armed with early-warning intelligence from Gulf states.

On July 31, Hamas reported Haniyeh's death in an Israeli strike on his residence in Tehran, where he had attended the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Al Hadath TV channel reported that Haniyeh had been killed in a direct missile strike. Mousa Abu Marzook, deputy chief of the Hamas political bureau, vowed that Haniyeh’s killing would not go unanswered. A sourcer in the Israel Defense Forces told TASS that the Israeli military did not comment on reports of Haniyeh’s death.

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