US to deploy more fighter jets, warships to defend Israel

Washington: The United States will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy ships to West Asia to defend Israel, the US Department of Defence said.

Response to Iranian Threats
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh on Friday said that the deployment would be in response to threats from Iran and Iranian-backed militias.

Increased Readiness for Ballistic Missile Defence
The Pentagon said Washington is also increasing its readiness to deploy more land-based ballistic missile defence. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin "has ordered additional ballistic missile defence-capable cruisers and destroyers to the US European Command and US Central Command regions," a statement from the US Department of Defence (DOD) read.

More Fighters and Defence Capabilities 
The Pentagon is also "taking steps to increase our [US] readiness to deploy additional land-based ballistic missile defence. The US defence chief has ordered more fighters to West Asia, the Pentagon added. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Singh said on Friday that the commitment for more defence capabilities in the region comes from conversations last night between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Secretary Austin's Follow-Up
"This morning, Secretary of the Defence Lloyd J. Austin III followed up on those conversations with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant," she said.

Pledge of Additional Support
Austin pledged additional support to Israel during a call with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. "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 defence of Israel," Pentagon spokesperson Singh said during a briefing.

Anticipation of Retaliation from Iran
The move comes as the US anticipates potential retaliation from Iran over the recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Tehran and its proxies have vowed revenge for the killing of Haniyeh and a top Hezbollah commander, Fouad Shukur, in Lebanon.

(With ANI inputs)