This report has been updated with new details.

The Pentagon announced on Monday that it is increasing its military presence in the Middle East due to rising tensions involving Israel and Hezbollah.

This action, involving an unspecified number of additional troops, comes in response to recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah that resulted in at least 274 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries, according to the Lebanese health authorities. There has also been a rise in rocket and missile attacks directed at Israel.

“Considering the heightened tensions in the region and as a precautionary measure, we are deploying a limited number of additional U.S. military personnel to reinforce our existing forces there,” stated Air Force Maj. General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary. “For reasons of operational security, we cannot provide specific information.”

There are currently approximately 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East. This military presence has been reinforced since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, with the aim of controlling the ongoing conflict.

The recent troop deployment was referred to as a precautionary measure by a U.S. official who spoke anonymously. The official noted that while the situation is serious, the deployment does not indicate that U.S. forces are preparing for immediate engagement in combat.

Lebanon experiences its deadliest day since 1990

The extensive airstrikes on Monday targeted areas throughout Lebanon, from the southern border with Israel to northern regions near Syria. With at least 274 lives lost, it marked the deadliest day in Lebanon since the civil war ended in 1990, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Israel’s military reported that they attacked around 800 locations, including residences used for storing Hezbollah weapons. Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi described the operation as a “preemptive defensive action” aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s intentions to attack Israel. “We are targeting the military infrastructure that Hezbollah has built up over the last two decades,” he stated.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin about the airstrikes.

In response to the strikes, thousands of Lebanese citizens received notifications from the Israeli military urging them to abandon any Hezbollah positions. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched numerous rockets towards northern Israel.

Ziad Makary, the information minister for Lebanon, criticized the Israeli phone warnings as “psychological warfare” and opted not to evacuate his ministry.

The airstrikes occurred shortly after a separate attack linked to Israel that caused explosions across Lebanon, resulting in 37 fatalities and escalating fears of a broader conflict.

Contributing: Reuters