American Commandos Are in Israel Helping to Locate Hostages, Pentagon Says

A Defense Department official, Christopher P. Maier, did not disclose the exact number of U.S. Special Operations forces currently present in Israel. However, other U.S. officials have confirmed that in recent weeks, the Defense Department has deployed several dozen commandos to aid in this mission.

Pentagon's top special operations policy official revealed on Tuesday that American commandos are actively involved in helping to locate more than 200 hostages who were taken during Hamas's surprise cross-border attacks on October 7th in Israel.

At a special operations conference in Washington, Christopher P. Maier, an assistant secretary of defense, stated, "We're actively assisting the Israelis in various ways," with one of the primary tasks being the identification of hostages, including American citizens. He emphasized that it is the U.S.'s responsibility to do so.

Mr. Maier refrained from specifying the exact number of U.S. Special Operations forces currently in Israel. However, other U.S. officials, speaking anonymously to discuss operational matters, have confirmed that in addition to a small team that was in Israel on October 7th for previously scheduled training, the Defense Department has dispatched several dozen commandos in recent weeks.

These commandos will collaborate with the F.B.I., State Department, and other U.S. government specialists involved in hostage recovery during their discussions with their Israeli counterparts.

It's important to note that the U.S. Special Operations forces in Israel do not have combatant roles assigned but are engaged in discussions with their Israeli counterparts regarding the complexities of the situation in Gaza, as Mr. Maier mentioned.

During discussions between Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin II and his Israeli counterpart, there has been a focus on the necessity for careful planning in the event of an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, considering Hamas's extensive tunnel network under densely populated areas. Mr. Maier stated, "We will work with them as much as possible to help advise them on those types of activities."

Additionally, several Western countries have discreetly deployed small teams of their special forces closer to Israel to assist in potential rescue operations and large-scale evacuations of their citizens from Israel or Lebanon.

Mr. Maier emphasized that U.S. Special Operations forces in the region are also prepared to assist in the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens and to ensure the security of U.S. embassies when necessary.