Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the top US military official and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made an unannounced trip to the Middle East on Saturday to discuss strategies to prevent further escalation of tensions, particularly in light of potential threats from Iran against Israel. Beginning his tour in Jordan, Brown is set to visit Egypt and Israel, where he will engage with military leaders to gather insights and explore ways to avert a broader conflict.
This visit comes as the US seeks a cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, which General Brown believes could help reduce hostilities and prevent the situation from spiraling into a larger regional conflict.
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The US government, led by President Joe Biden, has been focused on limiting the impact of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which has dragged on for 11 months. The conflict has sparked clashes at Israel’s border with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and led to attacks by Yemen’s Houthis on Red Sea shipping routes. US forces stationed in Syria, Iraq, and Jordan have also faced assaults from Iran-aligned militias.
To guard against further escalation, the US military has reinforced its presence in the region, deploying the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, an Air Force F-22 Raptor squadron, and a cruise missile submarine.
Iran has threatened retaliation for the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh during his visit to Tehran, an act it attributes to Israel, though Israel has not confirmed its involvement.