The Pentagon says is sending a “few thousand” additional troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to be prepared to defend Israel if necessary.

As war between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to erupt, the Pentagon said additional U.S. forces "are there for the protection" of other American troops.

The U.S. is sending an “additional few thousand” troops to the Middle East amid roiling tensions over Israel’s deadly strikes on Lebanon that killed top Hezbollah leaders last week, according to Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.