Israel has agreed to delay its impending ground invasion of Gaza until the U.S. can establish air defenses to protect U.S. troops throughout the region.
The Pentagon has requested that Israel hold off until they can deploy nearly a dozen air-defense systems to the region, the Wall Street Journal first reported. The missile deployments, which are expected to be completed in the coming days, are intended to shield U.S. troops serving in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from enemy rockets and missiles.
According to a recent report from a journalist for Yeshiva World News, Israel has now scheduled their ground invasion. “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: We have scheduled a time for the ground operation to begin. This decision was made with IDF Chief of Staff and the war cabinet.”
While the status of humanitarian aid available to Gazans and the release of hostages are still national concerns, U.S. officials have stated that threats to U.S. troops take precedence. According to U.S. military and other officials, hostile militant groups throughout the region are expected to ramp up attacks on U.S. forces once the incursion begins.
At least a dozen U.S. troops in Syria and ten troops in Iraq have sustained minor injuries in 13 drone and missile attacks since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, defense officials told the Journal. One American contractor has also been killed.
Last week, the USS Carney, an American destroyer stationed in the Red Sea, shot down three rockets launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen that were “potentially” headed for Israel.
In response to the heightened threat, U.S. forces stationed in Syria and Iraq as part of Operation Inherent Resolve announced Wednesday that they would begin live-fire exercises “to validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency and readiness.”