As we have demonstrated since October and again in April, the United States' global defense is dynamic and the Department of Defense retains the capability to deploy on short notice to meet evolving national security threats,
The Department of Defense continues to take steps to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or Iran's partners and proxies,
Two scenarios were discussed: a simultaneous response from Iran and its allies or a staggered response from each party,
Secretary Austin has ordered additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to the US European Command and U.S. Central Command regions. The Department is also taking steps to increase our readiness to deploy additional land-based ballistic missile defense.”
Netanyahu does not want to stop the war and is using these empty statements to cover up his crimes and evade their consequences.”
Iran is currently in the process of making a difficult decision on how to respond to the targeting killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran,
Iran will likely carefully calibrate its response to the Israelis,
The secretary reiterated ironclad support for Israel's security and informed the minister of additional measures to include ongoing and future defensive force posture changes that the department will take to support the defense of Israel,
The criminal, terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our territory and has caused our grief, but it has also prepared the ground for a severe punishment,
How Iran and the resistance front will respond is currently being reviewed,
We will stand with Israel in their self-defense,
It is our duty to take revenge,
This will certainly happen, and the Zionist regime [Israel] will undoubtedly regret it,
To maintain a carrier strike group presence in the Middle East, the Secretary has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group to replace the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group, currently on deployment in the Central Command area of responsibility,
The United States also remains intently focused on de-escalating tensions in the region and pushing for a ceasefire as part of a hostage deal to bring the hostages home and end the war in Gaza."
These posture adjustments add to the broad range of capabilities the U.S. military maintains in the region, including the USS WASP Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) operating in the Eastern Mediterranean,
Austin has ordered adjustments to US military posture designed to improve US force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies,
I think we are being very direct in our messaging that certainly we don't want to see heightened tensions and we do believe there is an off ramp here and that is that ceasefire deal,
We have the basis for a cease-fire. (Netanyahu) should move on it and they should move on it now,
I don’t think war is inevitable. I maintain that. I think there’s always room and opportunities for diplomacy,