The escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in the north is accompanied by a significant US military presence in the region. According to information provided by US military sources to the Associated Press, there are currently around 40,000 US troops, 12 warships and four squadrons of Air Force fighter jets in the Middle East. These forces play a key role in protecting US allies and deterring potential attacks.
Following a series of Hezbollah attacks on Israel, triggered by Operation Beeper, in which Israel was blamed for blowing up pagers and other devices, tensions along the border with Lebanon have reached new levels. Hezbollah’s leader said Israel had crossed a “red line,” killing dozens of militants and wounding hundreds. Because of this, there is a growing threat of a full-scale war between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
Despite this, the US has yet to increase its military presence in the region, considering the forces already deployed to be sufficient. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant announced last week that the conflict had entered a “new phase”, shifting the focus to the northern border. Gallant’s meeting with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin also reaffirmed the US commitment to supporting its ally amid the escalating conflict.
Although the US has shown no signs of an immediate troop surge, the existing military presence, analysts say, is a powerful deterrent to further escalation and could play a decisive role in stabilising the situation.
