A building that collapsed due to the fall of a rocket, and destroyed and dusty cars in south Tel Aviv, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (Yahel Gazit/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
(Tribune News Service) — The U.S. will come to Israel’s aid as it fights to defend itself from an attack by Hamas linked militants from Gaza, according to the Biden Administration.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Sunday that, in addition to moving the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean, the U.S. will “rapidly” provide Israel with “additional equipment and resources, including munitions.”
“The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days. Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States’ ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people,” Austin said in a statement.
On Saturday, more than 700 Israeli civilians and military personnel were killed when Hamas launched a surprise attack from Gaza. Israel’s Security Cabinet would declare war with the militant group in the following hours.
On Sunday, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, moved into closer range of Israel. Along with the carrier came a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, USS Normandy, and the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt.
“We have also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region,” Austin said.
Congress earmarked more than $3.8 billion in aid for Israel in fiscal 2023. According to U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, there may be little more that lawmakers can do to help our allies in the Middle East while the House goes without a Speaker.
“We’re pretty much paralyzed right now by not having a Speaker of the House,” Moulton told MSNBC.
Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry is serving as interim Speaker following the historic removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McHenry’s role as interim Speaker has limited authority, and can really only act to pave the way for a permanent Speaker.
With no Republican in that role to brief on the matter, Democratic U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, was reportedly brought up to speed on the security situation in Israel by the White House Saturday evening.
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