US Sends More Forces to Middle East, Prepares for ‘Significant’ Iranian Attacks

USS Abraham Lincoln (L), and JS Kongo (front), sail in formation during a U.S.–Japan bilateral exercise in the Sea of Japan on April 12, 2022. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force via AP

Iran and its proxies likely will launch significant attacks on Israel and possibly U.S. forces in the Middle East in the coming days, the White House has said.

U.S. and Israeli intelligence assessments concur that an attack or attacks are “increasingly likely,” and additional forces are being placed in the region to contend with the threat, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Aug. 12.

“We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks, which is why, again, we have increased our force posture and capabilities in the region, even in just the last few days,” Kirby said.

“Just to be crystal clear ... that is a U.S. assessment as well as an Israeli assessment.”

To that end, the Pentagon said on Aug. 12 that it’s deploying additional fighter jets and warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to bolster Israeli defenses.

Among the units making haste to the region are the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia.

Kirby said the United States maintains “significant force capabilities in the region” and is prepared to contend with emerging threats that “could happen as soon as this week.”

“The president is confident that we have the capability available to us to help defend Israel, should it come to that,” he said. “Nobody wants to see it come to that.”

Likewise, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder issued an earlier statement saying that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had spoken with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and that Austin had ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region.

It remains unclear when it will arrive.

“Secretary Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel, and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions,” the statement reads.

Fears of a large-scale attack by Iran or its proxies have grown in recent weeks, following the assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month.

Shukr was killed in an Israeli air strike and Haniyeh by an explosive, although Israel hasn’t officially claimed responsibility for the latter.

Anticipation of Iran’s retaliation has led to some concern that the conflict in Gaza is widening into a larger, regional war.

Kirby said that President Joe Biden held a series of calls with leaders from France, Germany, Italy, and the UK earlier in the morning, urging the allies to reaffirm their commitment to Israel’s defense and the need for a cease-fire agreement.

The allies subsequently issued a joint statement endorsing the latest efforts of mediators in the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to secure a cease-fire.

The leaders also called for the return of hostages held by Hamas and the “unfettered” delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.