US ready to send additional military assets to region to aid Israel, says Biden

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US is prepared to send additional military assets to the region to bolster Israel amid spiraling violence with Hamas, President Joe Biden said Tuesday.

Biden pointed to his decision to deploy the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean, and increase US air assets in the region as evidence of his commitment, adding "we stand ready to move in additional assets as needed."

"Let me say again, to any country, any organization anyone thinking of taking advantage of situation, I have one word, 'don't.' Don't. Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear," the president said in remarks from the White House.

"Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel's back. We'll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow, as we always have. It's as simple as that," he added.

Hamas's armed wing launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating Israel by land, sea and air. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and growing settler violence against Palestinians.

Israeli officials estimate that more than 1,200 Israelis were killed in Hamas attacks on towns near the Gaza Strip, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Tuesday.

At least 14 American citizens have been killed, Biden said.

Israel has retaliated to Hamas' attack with a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, and imposed a total blockade on the territory, which home to nearly 2.2 million people, about half of whom are children.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 830 Palestinians were killed and 4,250 others injured in the Israeli bombardment of the strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to use all of Israel’s strength to destroy Hamas’ capabilities and “take revenge for this black day.”

Biden earlier Tuesday met with his national security team to receive an update on the situation, and spoke by telephone with Netanyahu.

The Israeli military estimates that over 100 Israelis are being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but the total number remains unknown. Biden confirmed that Americans are among those in captivity.

"We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas. I am directing my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts," he said.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US does not have any confirmation on their condition, nor does it have a firm figure on how many Americans are being held in Gaza.

"We believe that there are 20 or more Americans who at this point are missing. But I want to underscore and stress that does not mean necessarily that there are 20 or more American hostages," he told reporters at the White House.