By Admin 
America has expanded military operations amid increasing tension in the Middle East. This can be gauged from the fact that currently more than 108,000 American soldiers are deployed or present in advance in 160 countries of the world.
This deployment comes at a time when the US is facing an ongoing conflict with Iran and is also dealing with growing security threats from China and Russia. Top Pentagon officials, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness on Wednesday (local time), said that the US military is capable of maintaining its operations globally along with ongoing active military operations in the Middle East.
US Army Vice Chief of Staff General Christopher Lanev told senators that American forces are active in multiple areas simultaneously and are maintaining deterrence amidst changing threats. “Today, more than 108,000 American troops are deployed or forward-deployed to 160 countries, protecting our interests in the Western Hemisphere,” Laneve said.
Lanev said that American troops deployed in the Middle East are currently operating in a complex and dangerous environment amid the ongoing conflict with Iran and its regional allies. “They are protecting US forces and partners, intercepting missiles and drones, and protecting critical infrastructure,” he said.
Lanev said U.S. troops are continuing to deliver fuel, ammunition and medical support to the theater, while collaborating with intelligence and joint fires to rapidly respond to threats.
Admiral James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, told lawmakers that last year the US Navy conducted numerous military missions and supported joint forces. The Navy conducted strikes against enemies and also protected its allies in the Middle East. The US Navy is continuously active in the Indo-Pacific region. Here it is keeping an eye on the increasing activities of China and working together with its allied countries.
Kilby said that to strengthen its readiness, the Navy is reducing delays in repairing ships and modernizing the shipyard. At the same time, it is moving towards the goal that 80 percent of its war-ready ships, aircraft and submarines are always ready for deployment.
Marine Corps officials said that their forces remain ready to deploy quickly to any part of the world, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions with China are increasing. A senior officer said that the Marine Corps is a global rapid response force and is playing an increasingly active role in the Indo-Pacific.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General James LaMontagne said that the Air Force is modernizing its aircraft and training new pilots. He said that the main job of the Air Force is to fly the planes and keep them in good condition, so that immediate action can be taken if needed.
He said that the Air Force is training about 1,500 new pilots every year and is also developing new aircraft and modern combat systems like B-21 bomber. Space Force officer General Michael Guetlin said that the role of space has become very important in modern warfare. He said that recently new satellites have also been launched for missile warning, navigation and space surveillance.
However, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has warned that the US military still faces many challenges. GAO official Diana Maurer said the US has the strongest military in the world, but problems such as aging weapons, repair delays and lack of spare parts are affecting readiness.