WASHINGTON: The Pentagon moved Saturday to step up US military readiness in the Middle East in response to what it said were "recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces" across the region.
LOCKED AND LOADED In this image courtesy of DVIDS, a US Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) launching station sits at the ready in Israel on March 4, 2019. The Pentagon on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, moved to step up its military readiness in the Middle East, ordering activation of air defense systems ‘throughout’ the region and alerting additional US forces that they may be deployed soon. AFP PHOTO