According to sources in the Pentagon, specialized Joint Special Operations Command units have landed in Israel to help with the release of hostages taken by Hamas during a surprise attack on the Israeli military over the weekend. The Pentagon has confirmed that the United States will be working closely with the Israeli military, but that the Israelis will be taking the lead in the operation. The Joint Special Operations Command is an elite unit known for its success in finding and capturing Osama Bin Laden.
Mike Wagenheim, a reporter for i24 News, has stated that the US Special Forces will be providing aid in the form of intelligence sharing and reconnaissance, while the Israelis will lead the ground operation. This decision was made in order to minimize the risk of US troops getting involved in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In addition to the US Special Forces, the Pentagon has also positioned the Ford carrier strike group in the Eastern Mediterranean, with warplanes, destroyers, and cruisers. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stated that they also have the ability to rapidly deploy more resources if needed.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has already claimed the life of a 38-year-old father of four, Yonatan Shukroni, who was a commander for the Israeli military. Shukroni was killed in the Hamas attack on Saturday, leaving his family and friends in Miami-Dade County grieving.
Among those taken hostage in Gaza are several American citizen’s
Forces specializing in hostage freeing situations, such as the unit that found Bin Laden have landed in Israel. Our U.S. Correspondent @Mike_Wagenheim breaks down what their part will be in hostage rescue efforts pic.twitter.com/9KZmJChZc7
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) October 10, 2023
Meanwhile, Israeli-American reservists living in South Florida have started to make their way back to Israel to assist in the efforts to release the hostages and support their fellow soldiers. Some have also expressed their desire to attend Shukroni’s funeral before reporting to a military base.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi have both expressed their desire to act as mediators to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The International Committee of the Red Cross has also announced efforts to mediate access to hostages and prisoners of war. The United Nations has condemned the violence and expressed concern over reports of mistreatment and killings of captured individuals.
The death toll of the conflict has now surpassed 1,600, with no signs of a resolution in sight. As the US Special Forces work with the Israeli military to secure the release of the hostages, tensions are high and the international community is pushing for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
