US President Joe Biden expressed hope on Saturday that Iran will de-escalate amid recent tensions in the Middle East. "I hope so. I don't know," Biden told a reporter when asked, "Will Iran stand down?" as he was leaving a grocery store in his home state of Delaware. The Pentagon announced Friday that the US will deploy additional military assets to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region. "The Department of Defense continues to take steps to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran," the statement read. "Secretary (Lloyd) Austin has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies." Nearly 39,500 Palestinians have been killed in the nearly 10 months since Israel launched a brutal onslaught against the Gaza Strip that began on October 7, following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas. The assault has sparked increased regional tensions, with the latest escalation occurring earlier this week when Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated during a visit to Iran. In response, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly ordered a strike on Israel in retaliation for Haniyeh's killing. — Agencies
