WASHINGTON — The United States military is sending additional troops to the Middle East as tensions in the region escalate, according to a statement from the Pentagon. The exact number of personnel being deployed has not been specified.
Pentagon Press Secretary Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed the development Monday, saying the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution.” He added that the deployment is intended to “augment our forces that are already in the region” in response to the growing instability.
“In light of the increased tensions in the Middle East, and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward,” Ryder said in the statement.
The announcement comes just weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris stated that there were no active duty U.S. service members in combat zones, a claim that is now being revisited in light of the Pentagon’s new deployment.
It remains unclear whether the new deployments will involve direct combat operations, and no timeline has been provided for the additional troop movements.
