Page 2 - aruba-today-20231009

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 9 october 2023

Continued from Front as a fuller accounting is the U.S. is augmenting
compiled., according to Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16,
But the Israeli govern- the official, who spoke and A-10 fighter aircraft
ment formally declared on condition of anonym- squadrons in the region.
war Sunday and gave the ity to discuss initial reports “The U.S. maintains ready
green light for “significant received by the U.S. Em- forces globally to further
military steps” to retaliate bassy in Jerusalem. Most, reinforce this deterrence
against Hamas. if not all, of those reported posture if required,” Austin
Preliminary reports indi- dead or missing are dual said in a statement.
cate that at least four U.S.-Israeli citizens, the of- In addition, the Biden ad-
American citizens were ficial said. ministration “will be rap-
killed in the attacks and Along with the Ford the idly providing the Israel
an additional seven were U.S. is sending the cruiser Defense Forces with ad-
missing and unaccounted USS Normandy, destroy- ditional equipment and
for, according to a U.S. of- ers USS Thomas Hudner, resources, including muni-
ficial. The numbers were USS Ramage, USS Carney, tions. The first security as-
in flux and could change and USS Roosevelt and sistance will begin moving

An F/A-18 E is launched from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS
Gerald R. Ford during flight deck operations on Oct. 5, 2022, off
the Virginia Coast.
today and arriving in the situation.”
coming days,” Austin said. On Capitol Hill, the House
The Norfolk, Virginia- is preparing a biparti-
based carrier strike group( san resolution that says it
was already in the Medi- “stands with Israel” and
terranean. Last week it condemns “Hamas’ bru-
was conducting naval tal war.”
exercises with Italy in the The resolution from the
Ionian Sea. The carrier is in leaders of the House For-
its first full deployment. eign Affairs Committee is
President Joe Biden and expected to be among
Israeli Prime Minister Benja- the first items considered
min Netanyahu, in a tele- for voting once the House
phone call Sunday, dis- elects a new speaker.
cussed “the taking of hos- “Now is the time to show
tages by Hamas terrorists, the world the United
including entire families, States firmly stands with
the elderly, and young our friend and ally Israel in
children,” according to our condemnation of this
a White House statement heinous attack by Iran-
describing their conversa- backed terrorists,” said
tion. Biden stressed that the committee chairman,
all countries “must stand Rep. Michael McCaul, R-
united in the face of such Texas.
brutal atrocities.” House business is currently
The president updated at a standstill in after the
Netanyahu on U.S. dip- historic ouster of Speaker
lomatic efforts and said Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
additional assistance for Majority Republicans plan
Israeli forces was on the to kick off the selection
way, with more to come process, in private, at a
in the days ahead, the Tuesday evening forum
White House said. where candidates can
They also discussed ways address their colleagues.
“to ensure that no ene- The real contest could
mies of Israel believe they come as soon as Wednes-
can or should seek ad- day when the House next
vantage from the current convenes.q