CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Army air defense units from Fort Liberty are deploying to the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war, U.S. defense officials said Tuesday.
The Pentagon is also deploying air defense units from Fort Bliss in Texas and Oklahoma's Fort Sill as part of the operation. The New Jersey Air National Guard's 119 Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived Tuesday, but military officials wouldn't say where exactly it was located.
Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said the U.S. is preparing for an increase in violence, saying there's already been at least 13 attacks against troops and military installations in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon said those attacks were likely endorse by Iran, which is the chief sponsor of Hamas, the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, as well as militant groups in Iraq and Yemen.
“What we are seeing is the prospect for more significant escalation against U.S. forces and personnel across the region in the very near term coming from Iranian proxy forces and ultimately from Iran,” said Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary.
The Associated Press reported that this is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, citing a report from the Hamas-run Health Ministry that said at least 5,791 Palestinians has been killed and 16,297 wounded. In the West Bank, 96 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 wounded in violence and Israeli raids since Oct. 7.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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