US sends rapid response force to Middle East

A US Marine rapid response force is moving to the eastern Mediterranean.

Source: CNN, citing sources 

Details: Two officials have said that the USA is concerned that the war in the Gaza Strip will turn into a regional conflict.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship, had been operating in Middle Eastern waters, but late last week it began making its way to the Suez Canal, the officials said.

The Bataan is now in the Red Sea and will soon move into the eastern Mediterranean.

This will put the US Marine unit closer to Lebanon and Israel, as the US has warned its citizens to leave Lebanon. One of the typical tasks of an expeditionary unit of the Marine Corps is to assist civilians in evacuation.

Background: 

• On 29 October, the United States said there was an "increased risk" of the conflict in the Middle East spreading to other parts of the region as Iran-backed groups continued to attack American forces.
• In a comment about Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the White House said that the US is trying not to impose limitations on Israel.
• Israeli ground forces entered the Gaza Strip on Friday evening, 27 October, after intense bombardment with artillery and rockets fired from military aircraft.
• Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that a large-scale Israeli ground operation in Gaza would be a mistake.

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