The key facts

  • The US is sending an additional Patriot system to Israel from Texas (WSJ, citing sources)
  • In November, an additional carrier strike group is expected to join the 20 American warships in the region
  • CNN previously reported the evacuation of staff of US diplomatic missions from the Middle East

Additional Patriot and carrier strike group

The United States has decided to send an additional Patriot air defense system to Israel, transferring the system from the state of Texas. This is reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources; according to the newspaper, Washington is seeking in this way to strengthen Israel's missile defense. In addition, an additional US carrier strike group is expected to arrive in the Middle East in November — it is expected to join the 20 American warships already in the region.

Preparation for a possible resumption of the conflict

As the outlet's journalists found out, these steps are being taken in case hostilities against Iran resume; according to WSJ, Washington is studying various courses of action for such a scenario. These reports add to the picture previously described by CNN: on October 24, the channel reported, citing sources, that the United States is urgently evacuating staff of its diplomatic missions from Middle Eastern countries along with their family members. According to CNN, the reason was an intensification by Iran detected by American intelligence — the republic, as noted in the report, had 'reached advanced stages' of preparing alleged attacks. Earlier, the US had also allowed for the possibility of a new 'Epic Fury' operation against Iran. Thus, the transfer of the Patriot and the carrier strike group appears to be part of a series of preparatory measures reported by various outlets citing their own sources; there is no official confirmation of these plans in the publications.