U.S. Calls on All Parties in Middle East to De-Escalate Tensions

The U.S. government is monitoring the situation in the Middle East and calls on all parties to de-escalate regional tensions, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh today.

The Defense Department has bolstered forces in the Middle East to improve U.S. force protection measures including deploying F-22 Raptors and moving the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group into the area. Other ships are standing by to respond in the event of attacks from Iran or Iranian-backed groups in the region.

The steps were taken to "increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to a various number of contingencies," Singh said. "The secretary and the department remain intently focused on de-escalating tensions in the region and pushing for a cease-fire as part of the hostage deal to end the war in Gaza."

Iran and Iranian-backed groups have threatened to attack Israel, but Singh did not comment on the imminence of any attacks. "We've, of course, seen the public messaging that has come out - whether it be from Hezbollah or from Iran - and that's why the secretary made the decision that he did to bolster our force posture in the region," she said. "And of course, our commitment to the defense of Israel remains ironclad."

Singh also addressed the raid Ukraine launched into Russia saying the Ukrainians have every right to defend themselves against attacks that are coming across the border. The raid is consistent with U.S. restrictions on using systems provided by the United States, she said.

The Ukrainians are aware of the U.S. policy and are acting within those parameters. "From the very beginning we are supportive of Ukraine and their success on the battlefield, but as the dynamics have shifted on the battlefield, they've been able to actually push the Russians back further into Russian territory," Singh said.

The United States does not support long-range attacks into Russia but does support Ukrainian efforts to disrupt attacks into their sovereign territory, the deputy press secretary said.