US reinforces Central Command with fresh supply of F-16s in 'ironclad' commitment to defend Israel

American F-16 combatant jets person been deployed to nan Middle East, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed connected Friday, successful a show of an "ironclad" commitment to Israel arsenic tensions equine pinch Iran. 

CENTCOM did not item really galore F-16s had been sent to nan "area of responsibility," but said they had been deployed from nan 480th Fighter Squadron based astatine Spangdahlem Air Base successful Germany.

When pressed by reporters astir whether nan move signaled Jerusalem was preparing to motorboat its promised retaliatory onslaught connected Iran for nan 180-missile onslaught it levied astatine Israel earlier this month, White House National Security Council communications director John Kirby said he could not spell into immoderate item connected nan issue.

Four F-16s from nan 120th FS Buckley Space Force Base alert complete Empower Field astatine Mile High successful Denver earlier nan crippled betwixt nan Denver Broncos and nan Washington Commanders connected Sept. 17, 2023.  (Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

IDF KILLS HAMAS TERRORIST IT SAYS WORKED FOR UNRWA, LED CHARGE ON REIM BOMB SHELTER MASSACRE

"Our committedness to Israel's information remains ironclad," he said. "And that means, arsenic appropriate, making unit posture changes that we deliberation request to beryllium made to thief Israel take sides itself."

The U.S., which has been progressively bolstering its location defenses for months, has played a captious domiciled successful defending Israel from 2 important rocket attacks, nan first incident occurring successful April erstwhile immoderate 300 missiles and drones were fired and nan 2nd having played retired earlier this month.

According to a report by Bloomberg connected Friday, nan U.S. has besides signaled to Saudi Arabia that it will thief take sides nan kingdom should it travel nether onslaught by Iran, erstwhile its main adversary successful nan region, aliases its proxy forces. 

The committedness allegedly served arsenic immoderate comfortableness to nan U.S. partner arsenic galore Gulf states stay connected precocious alert complete concerns of a location war. 

A representation showing nan positions of U.S. Navy assets successful nan Middle East. (Fox News)

The world organization has been anxiously watching Israel's conflict against Iranian proxy forces, Hamas and Hezbollah, arsenic nan U.S., arsenic good arsenic different location partners, hustle to de-escalate nan business from becoming an all-out warfare betwixt Israel and Iran — some of which person sophisticated subject capabilities. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was successful nan Middle East this week earlier walking to London connected Thursday, met pinch United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan connected Friday to talk efforts to bring an extremity to nan warfare successful Gaza and to unafraid nan merchandise of nan hostages who person been successful Hamas captivity for much than a year. 

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken and his UAE counterpart besides discussed "the post-conflict period" and what a "vision for governance, information and reconstruction that establishes lasting bid for Israelis and Palestinians alike" could look like.

US READINESS PLAYS 'SIGNIFICANT' ROLE IN FENDING OFF IRANIAN ATTACK ON ISRAEL

President Biden, right, talks pinch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu successful nan Oval Office of nan White House successful Washington, D.C., connected July 25. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

While nan Biden management holds tight to a two-state solution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected nan thought agelong pushed by galore successful nan world community. 

But nan warfare successful Gaza wasn’t nan only rumor up for chat pinch nan apical location ally. The brace besides looked to Israel’s operations successful Lebanon successful its push to eliminate nan threat Hezbollah poses there. 

"The Secretary underscored nan value of a negotiated solution that afloat implements United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," Miller said, though he did not spell into item connected really nan U.S. and its friends will look to guarantee Hezbollah, which has embedded itself successful nan mundane life of galore successful Lebanon, will beryllium stamped out. 

While Blinken besides said pinch Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati connected Friday, their discussions appeared to ore connected nan humanitarian toll Israel’s operations person taken, including mounting civilian casualties.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken useful successful an agency aboard an craft carrying him from Doha, Qatar, to London connected Thursday. (Reuters/Nathan Howard/Pool)

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"He emphasized Iran and Hezbollah must not guidelines successful nan measurement of Lebanon’s information and stability," Miller said successful a readout. "He besides expressed support for nan U.N. Interim Force successful Lebanon and underscored that nan information and information of their unit is essential."

"They discussed Lebanon’s statesmanlike vacancy and nan request to empower activity that reflects nan will of nan people," he added. Blinken besides met pinch Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.