The US is sending additional troops to West Asia as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon escalate, following a deadly Israeli airstrike that killed hundreds in Lebanon. The conflict, which has already displaced thousands, raises concerns of a wider regional war.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its accompanying destroyers have arrived in the West Asia, increasing the US military presence in the region. This deployment comes in response to heightened concerns about regional conflict following recent assassinations in the Middle East. The Lincoln replaces the USS Theodore Roosevelt, temporarily boosting the number of US aircraft carriers in the region to two.
Germany has announced plans to resume cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza following an independent review of its neutrality. This decision follows similar moves by Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has redeployed two reserve brigades from the northern border to Gaza for defensive and tactical missions as it prepares for an offensive in Rafah. The redeployment comes amidst concerns over potential harm to civilians, with over half of Gaza’s population seeking refuge in Rafah. The region continues to face unrest, with Israel and the US pitted against Iran and allied militant groups, raising fears of a full-scale regional war.
