US does not plan to deploy troops on the ground after attacks on Israel

(Patria) - The US government has no intention of deploying troops on the ground after the attack on Israel by the Islamist militant group Hamas, but will protect US interests in the region, said White House spokesperson, Reuters reported.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that "there is no
doubt that there is a degree of complicity" from Iran in supporting Hamas, but the
administration of President Joe Biden has not seen tangible evidence that Iran was directly
involved in planning the current attack.

Kirby told reporters that the White House expects additional security requests from Israel and will try to meet those needs as soon as possible.

He also said that it is "too early to say that we have stalled" efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but that such diplomacy should still be encouraged.

US President Joe Biden said that eleven Americans were killed in the Hamas attack in Israel, and that others were likely taken hostage, AFP reported.

Biden said that Washington, which has moved its largest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel as a show of support, is working with its key ally on "hostage recovery efforts".

"Unfortunately, we now know that at least eleven American citizens are among the dead - many of whom made a second home in Israel," Biden said after meeting with his national security team at the White House.

"While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those held by Hamas," he added.