Israel has reportedly agreed to delay the invasion of Gaza so the US can install missile defences to protect its troops in the region.
The Pentagon is set to deploy nearly a dozen air-defence systems to protect troops in the region, including in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Wall Street Journal reports.
US came to an agreement with Israel to hold off the invasion until these systems are placed, which will be ‘as early as later this week’.
Another factor Israel is taking into account is the humanitarian aid being delivered to civilians inside the Gaza Strip and the diplomatic talks being held to free more hostages taken by Hamas, Israeli officials have said.
Threats to the US troops were of paramount concern, US officials told the WSJ.
The US military and other officials believe their forces will be targeted by militant groups once Israel launches its ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, according to the report.
So far, there have been at least 13 missile and drone attacks against US troops in Iraq and Syria, which caused the death of one American contractor. The strikes also destroyed an American
drone.
At least two dozen US soldiers were injured in attacks in Iraq and a further ten in Iraq, officials said, but added that most of the injuries were minor.
Washington advised Israel to hold off on a ground assault in the Gaza Strip and is keeping Qatar – a broker with the Palestinian militants – apprised of those talks as its tries to free more hostages and prepare for a possible wider regional war, it was reported earlier this week.