President Biden Officially Notifies Congress of Troop Deployment to Defend Israel from Iran

US Navy Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike groups, break away. 2006.Photo byUS Navy

WASHINGTON – In a formal communication to Congress, President Joe Biden. announced his decision to send additional U.S. military forces to assist in Israel’s defense following a major escalation of aggression from Iran. The notification comes as part of the Biden administration’s "continued commitment" to Israel’s security amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

In a letter addressed to Speaker of the House, Majority and Minority Leaders, and other key congressional figures, the President highlighted the latest developments in the region. On October 1, 2024, Iran launched over 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel, prompting an immediate response from U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East. The President highlighted the “outstanding performance” of U.S. service members who worked closely with Israeli forces, resulting in the downing of dozens of Iranian missiles before they could inflict harm on civilians.

President Biden re-affirmed the United States’ "unwavering support for Israel", noting that the recent missile defense operations marked a “historic defense” effort, similar to a shared success earlier in the year on April 13, 2024, when U.S. and Israeli forces cooperated in countering Iranian threats.

In response to the attacks, the U.S. military has adjusted its posture to better support Israel and enhance its own force protection in the region. Among the measures taken, the President directed the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C Lightning II fighters, to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Additional destroyers, including those with ballistic missile defense capabilities, were also deployed. Other assets in the region now include the USS Georgia guided missile submarine, the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, and various fighter squadrons such as F-22, F-15E, F-16, and A-10 attack aircraft.

In this move, President Biden directed the deployment of a U.S. ballistic missile defense system and personnel to Israel to bolster its defense against further missile attacks. These forces will remain in the region to protect U.S. interests and property and to ensure Israel’s security against Iranian-aligned threats.

The President affirmed that these actions were taken under his constitutional authority as Commander in Chief, citing his responsibility to protect U.S. citizens and interests abroad, as well as to uphold the longstanding national security and foreign policy objectives of the United States.

“Our commitment to Israel’s defense remains ironclad,” President Biden stated in his letter, underscoring the strategic importance of continued military support for one of the U.S.’s closest allies in the region.

This announcement comes amidst the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to address growing tensions in the Middle East while reinforcing U.S. military capabilities in the face of Iranian aggression, but this entire conflict has come under scrutinity with many placing blame on the Biden-Harris Admin.

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