The United States is likely to send troops to Lebanon to protect American citizens who are being evacuated there, United States President George Bush said in a letter to Congress on Wednesday.
While there are already a small number of US troops in the region to aid in evacuation efforts, the deployment of additional troops is anticipated, Bush wrote in the letter to lawmakers.
“It is likely that additional combat-equipped US military forces may be deployed to Lebanon and Cyprus and other locations, as necessary, in order to support further efforts to assist in the departure of persons from Lebanon and to provide security,” he wrote.
“These actions are being undertaken solely for the purpose of protecting American citizens and property,” the US president said.
“United States forces will redeploy as soon as it is determined that the threat to US citizens and property has ended and the departure of any persons, as necessary, is completed.” — AFP