US Adds Troops In The Middle East: Protect Personnel And Prevent Regional Actors From Expanding Conflict?

US military illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Defenseimagery.mil/SGT Eddie Siguenza)

JAKARTA - The United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) on Monday said the country had sent a small number of additional troops to the Middle East, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated.

The Pentagon did not clearly state the number of additional troops sent and the mission being developed.

"Out of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel to add to our existing troops in the region," Pentagon spokesman Major General of the Air Force Patrick Ryder said.

US President Joe Biden's administration has sought to contain the conflict on the Gaza Strip, Palestine and has repeatedly called for the Israel-Lebanon border crisis to be resolved through diplomacy.

The call for diplomacy has been confirmed by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a daily phone call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In their phone call on Sunday, the Pentagon Chief warned that no outside actors should intervene in the conflict.

"The minister stressed that the United States remains cautious to protect US troops and personnel, determined to prevent any regional actor from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict," the Pentagon said in a statement.

The US capabilities include the group of strikers of the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, fighter aircraft, and air defense.

"We have more capability in the region at this time than we had on April 14 when Iran launched drone and missile attacks on Israel," Major GeneralRIDer said.

"So, all these forces when combined give us the option to be able to protect our troops if they are attacked," he added.

Major General Ryder referred to Iranian attacks with more than 300 missiles and unmanned aircraft, which caused minor damage within Israel thanks to aerial defense interceptions from the United States, Britain, and other allies in the region.

It is known that for nearly a year at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israel has shifted its focus to the northern border, where Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israel in support of its ally, Hamas.

Yesterday, Israel launched an attack on Hezbollah's position in southern Lebanon, the east Bekaa valley, and northern region near Syria in its most extensive attack. At least 492 people were killed and tens of thousands others displaced as a result of the attack.

In the evening, Israel launched an attack on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital to target senior leader Hezbollah Ali Karaki, a security source told Reuters.

Separately, experts question whether Iran will remain on the sidelines if the presence of Lebanese Hezbollah is threatened and say US troops could also be targeted across the Middle East if a regional war breaks out.