Israel has reportedly agreed to delay its invasion of Gaza to enable the United States of America to install missile defences to protect its troops in the region.
According to a Wall Street Journal report quoted by Mail Online, 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 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”.
Israeli officials have said that another factor Israel is taking into consideration to delay the invasion 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.
The US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the threats to the US troops were of paramount concern.
The report noted that 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.
It was gathered that 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 10 in Iraq, officials said, adding 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 it tries to free more hostages and prepare for a possible wider regional war.
Last week it was reported that the Pentagon planned to send two Iron Dome missile defence systems to Israel to help it defend itself against inbound missiles, and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and additional Patriot air defense missile system battalions to the Middle East.
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