The US administration is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East, including by deploying cruisers and destroyers, as well as additional aircraft. This was announced on Tuesday following the US-Australian talks in the "two plus two" format by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at a press conference, UNN reports.
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"To maintain the presence of our carrier strike group in the Middle East, I have ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt later this month. I have also ordered additional cruisers and destroyers capable of providing missile defense to the region. I have also ordered an additional fighter squadron to the Middle East to strengthen our defense support capabilities," Austin said.
"We have adjusted the deployment of our forces to increase their security, strengthen <...> support for Israel's defense, and maintain readiness to respond to various contingencies," he said.
Speaking about the strike on the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq, which is used by international coalition forces, which injured several American servicemen, the Pentagon chief assured that the United States "will not be attacked in the region.