Report: US Readies to Evacuate Americans From Lebanon

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Facts

• As cross-border clashes continue to escalate between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, the US Dept. of Defense is moving military assets closer to the region over fears American citizens may soon need to be evacuated from Lebanon, US military officials told NBC News on Thursday.¹
• According to the publication's sources, the Pentagon moved the USS Wasp — an amphibious assault ship — to the Mediterranean on Wednesday. There, it joined the USS Oak Hill, a dock landing ship, in the case that US Marines were needed to carry out what is known as a 'Military Assisted Departure.'¹
• The move is also designed to be a projection of US military power and also a deterrent to regional escalation, one US official told the outlet.¹
• This comes as multiple sources, including US intelligence assessments briefed to the press, suggest that a war between Israel and Hezbollah is looking increasingly likely — particularly if a cease-fire in Gaza is not soon agreed to.²
• Such a war between Israel and Hezbollah, if it were to break out, may draw in other Iran-backed armed groups in countries including Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, as well as Iran itself. There are also fears the US would inevitably be drawn in as well.³
• According to the US officials who spoke to NBC, the Biden admin. has been seeking to de-escalate the situation. However, they said Israeli officials wanted to create a 10-mile (16 km) buffer zone along the Lebanese border and that if such an objective was not achieved diplomatically, Israel might seek to achieve it by force.¹

Sources: ¹NBC, ²Politico and ³ABC News.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by NBC. The US is doing all it can to prevent a war between Israel and Iran's Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. This move is simply to ensure that if that worst-case scenario takes place, the US is best placed to take immediate action, rather than to lag behind in its response.
• Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jewish News Syndicate. While Israel is thankful to the US for ammunition and intelligence sharing, America's policy on Hezbollah — which it considers a terrorist group — is bewildering. Americans need to realize that pushing back the Iran-backed group is essential for Israel's national security — and it's in the US interest as well.
• Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by Al Mayadeen. The regional resistance is an essential bulwark against Israel's occupation, as well as Israel's increasing attacks on Lebanon. Iran will continue these important efforts to resist the crimes of the Israeli regime and will not hesitate to escalate its response if Israel does not end its ongoing aggression.

Predictions