The United States Department of Defense has issued a “Be Ready to Deploy” order to all military personnel over the weekend. The order is in response to the recent escalation in hostilities between Israel and the militant Islamic group Hamas in the Gaza strip.
The order, which was issued on Friday, requires all active duty, reserve, and guard members to be prepared to deploy on short notice if called upon. This is a precautionary measure on part of the Department of Defense in case the situation continues to worsen and U.S. forces are needed to respond to the conflict.
The Department of Defense statement said, “[The] Department of Defense is closely monitoring developments between Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas in the Gaza strip, and has taken appropriate administrative, planning, and operational measures to be ready to deploy forces if needed.”
Military officials have stated that the order does not mean that deployment is imminent, but that the United States is preparing for all possibilities. The United States and other countries have called for a ceasefire, but negotiations have not yet borne any results.
The conflict between Hamas and Israel has been ongoing for years, with each side taking turns carrying out attacks. In recent weeks, the situation has escalated as both sides continue to exchange airstrikes and rocket fire. This has led to civilian casualties, deaths, and widespread displacement.
As tensions continue to rise, the Department of Defense has urged troops to remain prepared and be ready to respond if called upon. These deployments could potentially involve combat operations, including air strikes, ground forces, or other forms of military assistance.
While U.S. forces have not yet been called upon to respond to the conflict, they are mindful of the situation and are ready for whatever comes next. The Department of Defense is doing all that it can to provide an effective response if one is needed, while also having the best interests of its personnel in mind.
