{"id":71797,"date":"2024-09-30T17:19:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T17:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/09\/30\/a-few-thousand-more-us-troops-are-headed-to-the-middle-east\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:30:33","slug":"a-few-thousand-more-us-troops-are-headed-to-the-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2024\/09\/30\/a-few-thousand-more-us-troops-are-headed-to-the-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"A \u2018few thousand\u2019 more US troops are headed to the Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. is sending an additional \u201cfew thousand\u201d troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to be prepared to defend Israel if necessary, the Pentagon said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The increased presence<\/a> will come from multiple fighter jet squadrons, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional personnel include squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16, A-10 and F-22 fighter jets and the personnel needed to support them. The jets were supposed to rotate in and replace the squadrons already there. Instead, both the existing and new squadrons will remain in place to double the airpower on hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It follows recent strikes in Lebanon and the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah<\/a>, a significant escalation in the war in the Middle East, this time between Israel and Hezbollah.<\/p>\n\n\n\t