By Smartencyclopedia News Staff with Agencies

Pentagon confirms troop surge as State Department urges Americans to leave Lebanon.

The U.S. is deploying additional troops to the Middle East as violence escalates between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, increasing concerns of a wider regional conflict, the Pentagon confirmed on Monday.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder did not provide specific details on the number of troops being sent or their mission but emphasized that this reinforcement follows recent heavy Israeli strikes inside Lebanon. These strikes have killed hundreds, with Israel poised for further operations. The U.S. currently has about 40,000 troops stationed in the region.

In a message to the Lebanese people, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the conflict was with Hezbollah, not the general population. He accused Hezbollah of storing weapons in civilian areas, warning, “Those rockets and missiles are aimed directly at our cities, directly at our citizens.” He added that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had urged Lebanese citizens to avoid harm by staying clear of Hezbollah targets.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Americans in Lebanon, urging them to leave as the risk of a regional war intensifies.

“Due to the unpredictable nature of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options remain available,” the State Department said in a statement on Saturday.

The situation in the Middle East remains volatile as both sides continue to exchange heavy fire, with fears mounting that the conflict could spill over into neighboring countries, triggering a broader confrontation in the region.