As the death toll on both sides of the war rises, about 2,000 U.S. troops have been told to get ready to deploy − possibly to the Middle East − in anticipation of an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza aimed at crushing the Hamas militant group that rules the war-battered enclave. The American soldiers would not be sent to Israel but could be assigned to other countries in the region for support roles such as medical assistance or providing security at gate crossings.
Those being deployed would include service members with a variety of capabilities and specialties, including providing medical support and handling explosives.
The Defense Department has also already deployed the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, where it will join the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford in a show of support for Israel.
