US Troops in Iraq on Standby for Possible Ground Involvement in Israel's Gaza War
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – US military personnel in Iraq have been placed on standby, ready to support potential ground involvement in Israel's ongoing war in the besieged Gaza Strip, as reported by The Intercept.
According to a January memo from the US Air Force obtained by The Intercept, American troops have been instructed to be prepared for forward deployment in case of US military ground engagement in the Gaza war.
While the memo did not confirm an imminent involvement, it is the latest indication of the Pentagon's readiness to support Israel's attacks following the October 7 operation by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in the occupied territories.
The document revealed that around 2,000 US military personnel were deployed to Iraq last year shortly after Hamas's surprise operation against Israel. Since then, they have been on standby for potential support to Israel.
Despite previous assertions from the Biden administration that support for Israel in the Gaza war would not involve boots on the ground, this latest development raises questions about the potential for US military engagement.
In October, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated, "There are no plans or intentions to put US boots on the ground in combat in Israel." However, two days after this statement, the White House inadvertently shared a picture of Biden in Israel alongside members of the secretive US special operations units before quickly deleting it.
The New York Times reported in early October that American special operations personnel were in Israel to assist in efforts to free Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza.
The Israeli regime initiated the war on Gaza on October 7 in response to Hamas's Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity, protesting Israeli atrocities against Palestinians.
Since the conflict's onset, Israel has reported more than 26,700 Palestinian casualties, predominantly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The US, a traditional ally of Israel, has supported Tel Aviv's attacks on the Palestinian territory as an instance of "self-defense" and has provided the regime with thousands of arms shipments. Additionally, the US has used its veto power to block UN Security Council resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza since the war began.
