United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of additional military forces to the Middle East to protect US citizens in the region and support Israel, according to the statement from the Pentagon. Washington will boost its military presence in the region by sending additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter jets, and refueling tanker aircraft, as well as B-52 strategic bombers. “These movements demonstrate the flexible nature of U.S. global defense posture and U.S. capability to deploy world-wide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats,” Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said. Austin warned Iran, its proxies, and allies that Washington will defend its personnel and interests in the region. Previously, Tehran indicated that it could retaliate against the Israeli attack on October 26.