US to bolster defensive capabilities in Middle East

The United States plans to bolster its defensive capabilities in the Middle East to protect American forces and help defend Israel, the Pentagon said. The announcement comes after Iran and its regional allies vowed retaliation for the killings of a Hamas leader in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Beirut, fueling fears of a broader conflict in the region.

The commitment for more defense capabilities in the region comes from conversations last night between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This morning, Secretary of the Defense Lloyd J. Austin III followed up on those conversations with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.