U.S. To Send Troops To Help Evacuate Americans in Lebanon

by Alisha Khan

The Defense Department announced plans to send dozens of U.S. troops to the Middle East in the coming days to be ready to help Americans flee a region of Lebanon in the wake of the conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, according to three defense officials.

The U.S. forces will add to the roughly 40,000 troops already in the region, NBC reported. The new troops will have a different mission, the officials said, specifically to be on standby if the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah threatens Americans and evacuations are needed.

The Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, said Monday that the U.S. was sending a small number of additional American forces “to augment our forces that are already in the region.” He declined to identify how many of the additional troops would be deployed, why or where, citing operational security.

Biden administration officials are concerned about a lack of understanding about what Israel’s plans are when it comes to conflict with Hezbollah, an issue that has also arisen at times during Israel’s war against Hamas.

“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary said. “But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Lebanese civilians in a videotaped message to evacuate their homes ahead of a widening air campaign on Monday. He spoke as Israeli warplanes struck alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon.

According to the AP, the U.S. has “concrete ideas” for restoring calm along the Israel-Lebanon border that it will present to allies and partners this week on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly gathering of world leaders, a senior State Department official said Monday.