US deploying more troops to Middle East amid Israel-Hezbollah fighting: Pentagon

The US military is sending more troops to the Middle East as fighting between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel escalates, the Pentagon said on Monday.

“In light of increased tensions in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional US military personnel forward to augment forces already in the region,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told Al Arabiya English.

Ryder did not provide more details due to operations security reasons. The US had already increased its troop level in recent months, boosting the total number to 40,000. It is unclear how many more are being deployed.

The State Department urged Americans in Lebanon to leave the country while commercial options remain available over the weekend.

“Due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the US Embassy urges US citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the State Department said in an advisory.