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Live blog: US deploys cruisers, destroyers, missile defences to Middle East
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, now in its 302nd day, has killed at least 39,500 Palestinians — mostly women and children — and wounded over 91,000 others, with 10,000+ estimated to be buried under debris of bombed homes.
USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which has an array of aircraft on board, is seen operating in the eastern Mediterranean. [FILE] / Photo: Reuters Archive
REUTERS ARCHIVE
USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which has an array of aircraft on board, is seen operating in the eastern Mediterranean. [FILE] / Photo: Reuters Archive
Saturday, August 3, 2024
2142 GMT — US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered navy cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East region, the Pentagon has said, after Israeli assassinations in Iran and Lebanon heightened regional tensions.
US is also deploying additional fighter jet squadron and land-based missile defences to the region, Pentagon added.
The expected changes come as the United States is bracing for Iran and its allies to make good on their pledge to respond to the assassinations of Hamas peace negotiator Ismail Haniyeh two days ago in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah figure in Beirut as Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza rages.
“(Austin) informed the minister of additional measures to include ongoing and future defensive force posture changes that the department will take to support the defence of Israel,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters ahead of the announcement.
“(Austin) committed to minister Gallant and the President (Joe Biden) committed to (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu that we will be bolstering our force protection in the region,” she added.
More updates 
2036 GMT — Israel kills 5 Palestinians, including 3 children, in Gaza
Israel has killed five Palestinians, including three children, after air striking a home in Gaza City, Palestinian Civil Defense said.
In a statement, it said, “Our teams removed five martyrs, including three children, and a number of injured after an Israeli warplane targeted a home for the Abu Hasira family in Al-Sabra neighbourhood” in Gaza City.
2000 GMT — Hamas doubts Netanyahu’s intentions after Israel announces delegation to Egypt
Palestinian resistance group Hamas has doubted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intentions after he said he would send a delegation to negotiate a ceasefire deal.
“Netanyahu does not want to stop the war and is using these empty statements to cover up his crimes and evade their consequences,” Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said.
Abu Zhuri was commenting on an earlier statement from Netanyahu’s office that said: “The negotiating team for a hostage deal will depart for Cairo on Saturday night or on Sunday.”
For our live updates from Friday, August 2, 2024, click here.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD AND AGENCIES
