UPDATE - US, Jordan conduct humanitarian aid airdrop in Gaza

ADDS REMARKS BY PENTAGON SPOKESMAN

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US and Jordan conducted additional humanitarian aid airdrops Tuesday into the Gaza Strip.

"U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Northern Gaza on March 12, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians in Gaza affected by the ongoing conflict," US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote on X.

The operation included Jordanian providing food and a US Air Force C-130 aircraft, it said.

"A U.S. C-130 dropped approximately 5,280 pounds of food, including rice, flour, pasta, and canned food, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza," it said, adding that the Department of Defense (DOD) humanitarian airdrops contribute to ongoing US and partner-nation government efforts to alleviate human suffering.

"These airdrops are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries," it said.

- 4 US ships deployed to Eastern Mediterranean

CENTOM has conducted eight humanitarian assistance airdrops into Gaza since March 2 to provide relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict, said Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

"C-130s and the air crews have dropped over 204,000 meals, 48,000 bottles of water and more than 5000 pounds of food items," Ryder told reporters.

He said the DOD deployed four ships to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of humanitarian assistance operations in Gaza and the mission to build a temporary pier.

"We expect the pier to be fully operational in approximately 60 days, which will be able to facilitate the delivery of up to 2 million meals daily," he added.

Preparations began Tuesday to build a temporary floating dock off the coast of Gaza, Anadolu learned.

Witnesses confirmed that heavy machinery is operating near the Al-Baydar area, which is controlled by Israeli forces.

The move was announced by US President Joe Biden in his State of the Union address last week, as Israel has restricted land routes into Gaza, slowing the flow of aid to a trickle.