About 2,000 U.S. troops could be deployed to Israel in support of the Jewish state’s war against Iran-backed Hamas terrorists.
The Wall Street Journal reports that “the U.S. military has selected roughly 2,000 troops to prepare for a potential deployment to support Israel, U.S. defense officials said. The troops are tasked with missions like advising and medical support, the officials said, and they are from across the U.S. armed services.”
In an important distinction, Pentagon officials told the WSJ that the troops “aren’t intended to serve in a combat role” but might be “preparing to support Israeli troops should Israel launch a ground incursion into Gaza.”
Fox News confirmed much of the WSJ‘s reporting except for the exact number of troops involved.
BREAKING: ‘Ready to deploy’ orders sent to US troops as Israel-Hamas war escalateshttps://t.co/eYpU6pjDbo
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 16, 2023
“Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has put in ‘be ready to deploy’ orders for a select number of American troops should Israel need them,” Fox reported.
Over the weekend, thousands of U.S. Navy sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower set sail for the Mediterranean Sea to support Israel. The USS Gerald R. Ford also recently arrived in the troubled region.
“I am scared,” Kelly Holbert, wife of U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Drew Holbert, told The Virginian-Pilot as her husband deployed aboard the Eisenhower. “It’s real now.”
Indeed, this worsening conflict is very real for thousands of new military families being affected on a daily basis. As we pray for Israel, please also keep our country’s brave troops and their loved ones in your prayers as well.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is the author of the forthcoming I Have Your Back, the recently released Be Bold and co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on X @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.