The US Department of Defense stated on Sunday that it has increased the readiness of extra US soldiers to respond swiftly to a potential assault by Iran and its allies against US personnel and interests in the Middle East.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin "increased the readiness of additional U.S. forces to deploy, elevating our preparedness to respond to various contingencies," a Pentagon statement read.

It emphasized that the Pentagon "maintains robust and integrated air-defense capabilities across the Middle East, ensuring the protection of U.S. forces operating in the region."

The statement boasted that the US has the capacity to deploy forces "on short notice" and maintains a "significant amount" of capability in the region amid the evolving security situation.

According to the Pentagon, "Secretary Austin made clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people."

This comes as intense rocket and drone bombardment targeted the headquarters of the US occupation forces stationed at the Conoco gas field base in Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria, during the early hours of Sunday.

Field sources confirmed to Al Mayadeen that Resistance factions targeted the US base for the second time in retaliation for the US airstrikes on the Harabesh neighborhood in the eastern side of the city of Deir Ezzor.

'Israel' seeking US aid, fearing Iran over attack on Sayyed Nasrallah

The Israeli occupation requested that the United States act to deter Iran from waging any retaliatory attacks over its assassination of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israeli and US officials told Axios' Barak Ravid on Saturday.

The Israeli war has now been raging on for nearly a year, with the ongoing Gaza genocide and the brutal aggression on Lebanon claiming the lives of tens of tens of thousands of people, combined with full US complicity.

Meanwhile, Iran has been taking a less confrontational approach, according to Axios. However, the assassination of such a major ally while flagrantly violating Lebanon's sovereignty is expected to lead to a major Iranian response.

The Israeli regime launched on Friday a massive airstrike on the Southern Suburb of Beirut, leveling several buildings. Hezbollah announced the martyrdom of Sayyed Nasrallah on Saturday afternoon, pledging to remain steadfast on the path drawn out by the leader throughout the several decades that he served as Secretary-General to the Resistance party. 

Iran has been seeking to avoid a regional confrontation while "Israel" has constantly pushed the region to the brink of war through its repeated assassinations and war crimes.

However, according to Axios, Sayyed Nasrallah's assassination "could push Tehran over the edge."

US President Joe Biden issued a statement on Saturday, instructing the Secretary of Defense to "further enhance the defense posture" of US military forces in the Middle East to prevent any escalation, claiming this was done to "deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war."