U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, July 25, 2024.
Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has authorized the military to bolster its presence in the Middle East through “defensive” air support capabilities and put other forces on high alert, the Pentagon said on Sunday.
“(Austin) increases the readiness of U.S. forces to deploy and improves our readiness to respond to a variety of contingencies,” Pentagon spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
The statement did not elaborate on which new aircraft would be deployed to the region.
“Secretary Austin made clear that if Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target U.S. personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take all necessary measures to protect our people,” Ryder added.