US Urges Israel to Shift Strategy as Iranian-Backed Ship Attacks Intensify

The top two U.S. military leaders are traveling to Tel Aviv to advise the Israeli government on transitioning from major combat operations against Hamas in Gaza to a more limited campaign, as Iranian-backed militants continue to launch attack drones against ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. is hoping to prevent a wider regional conflict and has been urging Israel to scale back its offensive. The Biden administration has warned that Israel is losing international support due to its "indiscriminate bombing." Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has extended the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and another warship to maintain a two-carrier presence in the Mediterranean Sea. The missile and drone attacks have led shipping companies to temporarily pause transits through the strait.