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The Hill
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
US aircraft, warships headed to Middle East amid Israel-Iran conflict
The Big Story Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that he has directed 'the deployment of additional capabilities' to the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region. © Associated Press 'Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region,' Hegseth said in a post on social platform X. He did not name the additional capabilities, though earlier on Monday, a U.S. official confirmed to NewsNation, The Hill's sister network, that the U.S. military has moved a large number of refueling tanker aircraft to Europe. The move is intended to 'provide options' to Trump amid the escalating tensions, the official added. A Defense official also confirmed to The Hill that Hegseth directed the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group be sent to the Middle East 'to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel.' Multiple outlets have reported that the action was a pre-planned deployment that had been expedited. The vessel is able to hold some 5,000 personnel and more than 60 aircraft, including fighter jets. U.S. European Command also deployed two destroyers to the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Friday. The vessels can help defend against guided missile strikes. The shifted U.S. military assets and personnel comes as the conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its fourth day, with both sides intensifying their assaults following Israel's initial strike on Tehran on Friday. Israel and Iran have taken part in tit-for-tat attacks, open warfare that Israeli officials have said could last 'weeks, not days' and threatens to spark a wider war in the Middle East. Israel last week moved forward with its strikes after accusing Iran of being on the verge of building a nuclear bomb. Since then, the two sides have traded large scale missile attacks back and forth in what has become the deadliest confrontation between the countries, with at least 24 people killed in Israel and more than 220 killed in Iran. Read the full report at Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: Democrat moves to prevent Trump from striking Iran without congressional approval Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced a resolution Monday seeking to prevent the U.S. from getting involved in a military conflict with Iran without congressional approval. The resolution reaffirms existing law, directing the president to end any use of the U.S. armed forces 'for hostilities' against Iran 'unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force against Iran.' The … White House denies reporting by Guardian on VA benefits: 'Totally FALSE story' The Trump administration on Monday denied reporting by The Guardian that said new Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals could refuse care to veterans based on factors like marital status and political affiliation due to an executive order by President Trump. The Guardian earlier Monday published a report saying VA hospitals are implementing new rules in response to Trump's executive order in January, which would … Netanyahu doesn't rule out targeting Iran's supreme leader Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday didn't rule out targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, just hours after reports emerged that President Trump nixed a plan by Israel to take out Khamenei. 'It's not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict,' Netanyahu told ABC News's Jonathan Karl when asked about the reports that Trump rejected … On Our Radar Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Suspect in Minnesota lawmaker shootings in custody after two-day manhunt The man suspected of shooting two Minnesota state lawmakers over the weekend, killing one of them, has been taken into custody after a massive search. Law enforcement apprehended Vance Boelter on Sunday night after a two-day search, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced at a press conference shortly … On Tap Tomorrow Events in and around the defense world: What We're Reading News we've flagged from other outlets: Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: Trump to depart G7 early due to Middle East conflict President Trump will depart the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Monday night, a day earlier than planned, because of the growing conflict in the Middle … Read more Senate releases Trump tax and Medicaid blueprint Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) on Monday released the Senate's long-awaited version of President Trump's tax agenda, which would … Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
The Hill
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Hegseth orders ‘additional capabilities' to Middle East
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that he has directed 'the deployment of additional capabilities' to the Middle East amid escalating tensions in the region. 'Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region,' Hegseth said in a post to X. He did not name the additional capabilities, though earlier on Monday a U.S. official confirmed to NewsNation, The Hill's sister network, that the U.S. military has moved a large number of refueling tanker aircraft to Europe. The move is intended to 'provide options' to Trump amid the escalating tensions, the official added. Pentagon and White House officials have declined to say how many aircraft have been moved, but the flight tracking website AirNav systems counted more than 31 Air Force refueling aircraft such as KC-135s and KC-46s leaving the United States on Sunday and flying east. The military flights eventually landed at Ramstein air base in Germany and in the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Greece, according to the website. Multiple outlets also have reported that USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is on its way to the Middle East as part of a pre-planned deployment – though the action has been expedited. The vessel is able to hold some 5,000 personnel and more than 60 aircraft, including fighter jets. The Pentagon and White House did not respond to questions from The Hill. The shifted U.S. military assets and personnel comes as the conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its fourth day, with both sides intensifying their assaults following Israel's initial strike on Tehran on Friday. Israel and Iran have taken part in tit-for-tat attacks, open warfare that Israeli officials have said could last 'weeks, not days' and threatens to spark a wider war in the Middle East. Israel last week moved forward with its strikes after accusing Iran of being on the verge of building a nuclear bomb. Since then, the two sides have traded large scale missile attacks back and forth in what has become the deadliest confrontation between the countries, with at least 24 people killed in Israel and more than 220 killed in Iran. White House and Israeli officials have said Israel began the strikes after approval from the U.S. – which has helped defend Israel from Iranian-fired missiles. But even as President Trump has voiced support for Israel, he appears wary of any U.S. involvement in its conflict. The president on Monday sidestepped a question as to what it would take for the U.S. military to get involved, telling reporters: 'I don't want to talk about that.' He also urged Tehran to return to talks with the U.S. over its nuclear program 'before it's too late.' 'They should talk, and they should talk immediately,' he said while attending an annual meeting of top western leaders in Canada. Trump a day prior on Sunday said the United States is not involved in Israel's strikes against Iran, but 'it's possible we could get involved.' He also has made clear Washington's support for Israel, warning that 'if we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.' Israel, meanwhile, had reportedly urged Washington to help it in eliminating Iran's nuclear program, with its targets including energy installations, missile sites, nuclear infrastructure, command centers and Iran's state television station. 'We're not involved in it. It's possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved,' Trump told ABC News' Rachel Scott. The U.S. military already has a large footprint in the Middle East, with nearly 40,000 troops, air defense systems, fighter aircraft and ships.
