Middle East
The American vice president said that the United States does not dictate to Israel what it should do
US Vice President Kamala Harris said Monday that the United States does not intend to send combat forces to Israel or Gaza.
In an interview with CBS News he added that Washington is focusing its efforts on preventing the conflict from spreading in the region.
He continued: “We do not intend, in any way, to send any fighting force here,” also stressing that the United States “does not dictate to Israel what it should do.”
CNN reported, citing American sources, that a US Marine Corps quick reaction force was moving towards the eastern Mediterranean.
CNN cited two officials who said the Navy’s 26th Expeditionary Unit, aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, has been operating in Middle Eastern waters in recent weeks but has begun heading toward the Suez Canal at the end of the week. past.
One of the officials said the Bataan vessel is currently in the Red Sea and is expected to cross the eastern Mediterranean soon.
This move would bring the Marine Corps unit closer to Lebanon and Israel, as the United States has called on its citizens to leave Lebanon, as one of the Marine Corps unit’s typical roles is to help civilians evacuate.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Sunday that he spoke with US President Joe Biden after Israel expanded ground incursions in the war on Gaza, which entered its fourth week. The statement provided no further details, cited by Reuters.
For his part, US national security advisor Jack Sullivan said that thousands of Palestinians had been killed during operations in Gaza, underscoring support for the protection of civilians. He added in a statement to CNN that the US administration has spoken to Israelis about protecting civilians, stressing that “Hamas has taken hostages and planted guns among civilians, but that is no excuse, and civilians must be protected.” .
The US national security adviser added: “We believe that the Israelis must take all necessary measures to protect civilians.”
Read also