Army air defense units from Fort Liberty are among those deploying to the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war, according to Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the top Pentagon spokesman.
Ryder confirmed during a press briefing on Tuesday that the Patriot battalions from Fort Liberty are being sent to undisclosed locations in the Middle East. The announcement came after at least 13 separate attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria during the past week.
“We know that the groups conducting these attacks are supported by the IRGC and the Iranian regime,” Ryder said. “What we are seeing is the prospect for more significant escalation against U.S. forces and personnel across the region in the very near term coming from Iranian proxy forces and ultimately by Iran.”
The public affairs team for the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty released a statement confirming the local deployments.
“We can confirm we have soldiers deploying within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility from Fort Liberty,” the statement said. “Due to operational security, no further details are available. Our units are trained and ready to support global response at any time.”
Also deployed to aid troops in the Middle East are the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery from Fort Bliss, Texas, and additional Patriot missile battalions from Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
