The United States is sending a small number of additional troops to the Middle East following a sharp spike in violence between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said on Monday.
Ryder did not provide further details on the number of forces or what they would be doing.
However, a senior U.S. official told VOA the number of troops would be in the dozens and their primary task would be preparing for a potential military-assisted departure of U.S. citizens, should a greater regional war break out.
Another U.S. official stressed that the situation was not at a point yet where a military-assisted departure was needed.
If an evacuation is needed, the U.S. military has Marines deployed nearby who could execute the mission, another official told VOA. All spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security issues.
Ryder, in response to a VOA question on Monday, told reporters that the Pentagon was a “planning organization” that was ready for a “wide variety of contingencies,” should the U.S. military be called for assistance.
“We have more capability in the region today than we did on April 14, when Iran conducted its drone and missile attack against Israel,” he said.
The announcement comes after several strikes by Israeli forces against Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon have killed hundreds of people. The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war escalates.
