VAM News Update
As President Joe Biden considers traveling to Israel in a show of solidarity, about 2,000 U.S. troops have been told to get ready to deploy − possibly to the Middle East − in anticipation of an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza aimed at crushing the Hamas militant group that rules the war-battered enclave.
The American soldiers would not be sent to Israel but could be assigned to other countries in the region for support roles such as medical assistance or providing security at gate crossing, the Associated Press reported Monday, citing U.S. officials.
Also Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and Hezbollah not to interfere in his country’s military actions prompted by Hamas’ brutal killing rampage into Israel nine days ago.
Netanyahu spoke at an Israeli parliamentary session that required a 40-minute break when rockets fired on Jerusalem forced attendees to take cover in bomb shelters.
“Don’t test us in the north. Don’t make the mistake of the past,” Netanyahu said, referring to the 2006 war with Hezbollah. “Today, the price you will pay will be far heavier.”
Hezbollah later said its fighters targeted five Israeli posts along the Lebanese border Monday afternoon.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to Israel on Monday − his second visit in less than a week − after a whirlwind tour of six Arab states aimed at keeping the war from expanding across the Middle East. Blinken met with Netanyahu, reaffirming U.S. determination to provide Israel whatever is needed to protect its citizens, Blinken said in a statement.
The two also discussed coordination with the U.N. and “regional partners” to provide humanitarian aid to civilians as well as the U.S. commitment to the speedy release of hostages, Blinken said.