This military activity comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, partly due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which started with the terror attack on October 7. The U.S. has taken a measured approach to the situation to prevent further escalation. Despite warnings from President Biden to Iran’s supreme leader and previous U.S. military responses, assaults on U.S. forces in the region have persisted.

Criticism has been levied at the Biden administration for what some believe to be inadequate retaliatory measures that may not deter future attacks. Injuries have been reported among U.S. troops, including brain injuries, due to these incidents. The broader context includes concerns about Iran’s network of proxy forces, which have historically targeted U.S. interests and allies in the region.

In response to these threats, the United States has bolstered its military footprint in the Middle East region. This includes deploying additional warships and aircraft, using B-1B bombers and F-16 jets as a show of force, and deploying a ballistic missile submarine to the region.

Despite these tensions, the U.S. remains committed to its mission in Iraq and Syria to combat the resurgence of the Islamic State group, with troops stationed in both countries for ongoing operations.