Originally published October 9, 2023 8:01 am PDT
The U.S. State Department disclosed on Monday that nine Americans have tragically lost their lives following the weekend’s violent assault by Hamas on Israel.
This devastating incident marks one of the deadliest confrontations in the region in years.
Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, “I can confirm that nine Americans unfortunately lost their lives as a result of these horrific attacks in the region.”
He went on to reveal the uncertainty regarding the total number of missing U.S. citizens, emphasizing, “It’s very hard to say. It’s a number that moves all the time as the Israeli military continues to conduct military operations. There are missing Americans who are unaccounted for.”
Amid the chaos, rumors have been circulating that Hamas might have taken some Americans as hostages during their organized attack, which also resulted in the capture of dozens of Israelis.
However, the State Department has yet to confirm these speculations.
Miller addressed the concerns, stating the department “cannot confirm” if missing Americans are among the hostages, The Washington Times notes.
While the exact number of casualties remains unclear, it’s reported that over 700 individuals, including Israelis and Americans, have perished in the turmoil.
The U.S. has firmly signaled its commitment to support Israel during this challenging time.
The Biden administration has been vocal about standing by Israel as it undertakes responsive measures against the Iran-affiliated Hamas terrorists based in Gaza.
As a further testament to this commitment, the Pentagon confirmed its decision on Sunday to deploy the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
This move serves both as a demonstration of force and a gesture of unity with Israel.
Alongside the main aircraft carrier, the strike group comprises the USS Normandy guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers: the USS Thomas Hudner, the USS Ramage, the USS Carney, and the USS Roosevelt.
