Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
Secretary Austin has been receiving updates and providing guidance to his team throughout the weekend on the latest developments in the Middle East. He and Department of Defense (DoD) leaders remain focused on protecting U.S. citizens and forces in the region, defending Israel, and de-escalating the situation through deterrence and diplomacy. Secretary Austin emphasized that the United States is determined to prevent Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict.
Secretary Austin stated, "should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people."
The United States retains the capability to deploy forces on short notice. The Department of Defense continues to maintain significant capabilities in the region and dynamically adjusts its force posture based on evolving security situations. The Secretary has directed that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) remain in the USCENTCOM theater and that the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) will continue operations in the Eastern Mediterranean. This afloat posture is complemented by DoD’s elevated fighter and attack squadron presence, including F-22, F-15E, F-16, and A-10 aircraft. Further reinforcements for defensive air-support capabilities are planned for coming days.
The Secretary has also increased readiness for additional U.S. forces to deploy, elevating preparedness to respond to various contingencies. The DoD maintains robust and integrated air-defense capabilities across the Middle East to ensure protection for U.S. forces operating in the region.
