The Department of Defense has reportedly selected roughly 2,000 troops to prepare for a potential deployment to Israel due to the current tension in the Middle East as Israel attempts to destroy Hamas.
The U.S. military has increased its posture in the Middle East to ensure any outsiders do not get involved in Israel's current conflict with Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist groups following the unprecedented terrorist attacks in Israel earlier this month that claimed the lives of roughly 1,400 people, according to the latest estimates. Most recently, the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft arrived in the region this past weekend and augments the previous arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group.
ISRAEL WAR: NEARLY 200 PEOPLE HELD HOSTAGE BY TERRORIST GROUPS IN GAZA
Despite the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, U.S. officials have repeatedly said they don't intend to have U.S. troops see combat and they are currently there in an advisory role, specifically focused on securing the release of the roughly 200 hostages being held in Gaza. U.S. officials have said Americans are among the hostages but do not know how many are among them, though it's suspected to be low.
Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh could not confirm the original report of the possible deployment of 2,000 U.S. troops, which first appeared in the Wall Street Journal, during a gaggle with reporters on Monday.
"I won't get into the specifics of our intelligence sharing, but one of the things that I think we've said early on that you're — that you probably know is part of what the intelligence that we are sharing is for hostage recovery," Singh said. "So whether that's an incursion, if Israel were to launch a ground incursion in, and part of that would be, you know, of course, if they were be — engaging in hostage recovery, of course we're going to be providing intelligence for them to do so and -- and to help with that. But again, our role is just advise and assist in this right now."
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She did note however that the United States is working to meet Israeli requests for air defense, precision-guided munitions, artillery, and medical supplies.
"They are there to help support and provide intelligence to the Israeli Defense Force, when it comes to hostage recovery," Singh added, though she declined to say how many personnel are involved in the mission at this point.