The US has deployed dozens of troops to Cyprus amid Israel’s dramatic escalation of its bombing campaign in Lebanon, CNN reported on Wednesday.
US officials said the troops are preparing for a range of contingencies, including the possibility of helping evacuate US citizens from Lebanon. The UK has announced that it’s sending 700 troops to Cyprus to evacuate British nationals.
Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the US was deploying more troops to the region but didn’t specify how many. On Wednesday, the Pentagon insisted it wasn’t directly supporting Israel’s attack on Lebanon but said it would defend Israel if necessary.
“The support that you’re seeing when it comes to US forces in the region is for our own force protection and should we need to come to the defense of Israel, like we saw from that large-scale attack from Iran,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
Singh was referencing when the US directly intervened to defend Israel from Iranian missiles and drones in April, an attack provoked by the Israeli bombing of Iran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria.
Singh also claimed that the conflict in the region is still contained to Gaza despite Israel unleashing one of the heaviest single-day bombings of the century in Lebanon on Monday, killing over 500 people, who were mostly civilians, according to Lebanon’s health minister.
“We still believe, right now, the conflict has been contained to Gaza. There’s no question that there are higher tensions in the region, there’s no question that there’s been an increase in border clashes on that northern border,” Singh said.
When pressed on how she could believe that since civilians have been killed in Lebanon, Singh said, “It’s not how we would characterize an all-out full-scale regional war. What you’re seeing is a trade of fires back and forth on that northern border. I’d point you to October 8, when Hezbollah started launching those. We’re not seeing this widen out into a regional conflict.”
Singh insisted the Biden administration was pushing for a diplomatic solution in Lebanon, but the continued US military aid and promises to defend Israel has only emboldened Israel to escalate.
Apparently a battalion of Light Infantry (from the 101st) has been sent to Israel. Anyone confirm ?
I think that's been acknowledged. As I suggest they're being sent to prepare for the arrival of the entire division at some point.
A division of light infantry – barely trained in urban combat ?
Sounds like trip wire bait to me.
Don't under estimates the 101st ability. Yes they are lite infantry meaning they don't have heavy tanks but the 101st have some of the finest troops going.
I attended the 101st’s Air Assasult school to learn how to rappel out of helicopters.
I wouldn’t say they’re any better or worse than most other units; they just have a specific type of mission to be good at.
My uncle was in the 101st in WWII.
Cool
My great grandmother and father were partisans
They are plenty good at calling in air strikes on farmers tending fields or moms walking their children home from school – but not much versus soldiers
It looks like 101st helicopters battalion is heading over seas.
Think they’ll be used for Hannibal Directive Operations ?
What all these troops are actually being sent to do is make preparations for the arrival of much larger formations and for the logistical support of much larger formations as well as the transit of larger formations.
In short, they are preparing for the wider war which is inevitable.
Contained? But they are attacking and destroying the West Bank too. Bastards
The “situation”=genocide. And that’s okay!
Contained? But they are attacking and destroying the West Bank too. Bastards
It's time to take out… Lebanon? …Wait!? No talk of Lebanon being a brutal dictator who gases his own people first? …I'm not feeling it yet. It's like having sex with no foreplay. …What now? …No more foreplay either?
I'm sure that immigrant family from the country of India, home of Mahatma Gandhi, is proud of their daughter representing the Pentagon and declaring war on a small defenseless country in the Middle East. Long live colonialism. That's just beautiful. …What's that? Gandhi was against colonialism? …Wait!? wut
The first part of statement is bull crap…! The second part means US soldiers will be directly involved in potential Israel invasion of southern Lebanon…!
Our economy is staying afloat by our Wars and they say it will help Zionist Harris win. So the (STUPID) Republicans in Congress, by their actions, are electing Harris. If the Republicans had any decency left, being so called "god fearing people", they would STOP all funding for Ukraine and Israel. So who cares that we are 35+ trillions in debt, the WARS must continue, the sacrifice of Humans must be made, just so the Zionist stay in power.
… And why US and UK sending troops to Cyprus instead of Lebanon to evacuate citizens and diplomats from Lebanon…!!!???
I'd guess they're staging troops in Cyprus Hill in case they're needed to evac ex-pats across the way in Lebanon.
USA troops to defend Israel?/ Hell No!!!
Let the Congress first vote to declare war on Lebanon,,go on record and follow the Constitution!
I decided to pain myself and read the constitution of you guys
You are right, but most presidents overstep the constitution – republican and democrat
Declare war on Lebanon…???
If we send troops and bombs in,,HELL YES! Congress must then act and declare war, on the record so Mom and Dad know that their sons and daughters are getting maimed and killed because of the People they voted into office.
Light the fires and kick the tires!
Escalating.
Sabrina Singh must be a rookie graduate of DC Lie School…! Her lies are immediately rebuffed as soon as spewing out of her mouth…!