The U.S. Department of Defense, also known as the Pentagon, has dispatched military advisers, including a seasoned Marine Corps general experienced in urban warfare, to Israel to assist in war planning. This move comes as advanced multi-layered air defense systems are expedited to the Middle East, days before an anticipated ground offensive in Gaza.
According to Sky News Arabia, one of the officers leading the support operations is Lieutenant General James Glenn, who previously aided in leading Special Operations forces against ISIS and served in the intense urban battles of Fallujah, Iraq, according to a U.S. official.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated on Monday that Glenn and other military officers offering advice to Israel “have relevant experience for the types of operations that Israel conducts.”
The military team is one of many fast-moving pieces the Pentagon is assembling to try to prevent the already escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas from becoming a broader war. It is also working to protect U.S. personnel, who have been targeted in recent days by attacks the Pentagon says are likely backed by Iran.
Kirby also cautioned Israel against rushing into a ground assault, stating that it would allow more time for the U.S. to work with regional partners to secure the release of additional hostages, according to a U.S. official familiar with the Biden administration’s thinking on the matter.
The official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations, noted that it’s unclear how this advice will impact Israeli considerations.
