The Pentagon released more details about the Gaza pier President Joe Biden wants to build to send in humanitarian aid:
– Over 1,000 U.S. military personnel- Weeks to plan & execute (~60 days)- U.S. Army 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) from VA tasked- “Maintains the ability to provide unique capabilities from offshore without a U.S. military presence within Gaza”- U.S. Navy will not play a role because it doesn’t require “combat capability”- Working with Military Sealift Command & logistics support vessels (LSV) involved; multiple ships “from across the world will come together”- JLOTS (joint logistics over the shore) operation confirmed; employed last year in Ex Talisman Sabre in Australia- Aid will be loaded from Cyprus ➙ floating pier ➙ LSVs (or barge) ➙ causeway ➙ ashore ➙ partners ➙ Gaza- Working with like-minded countries & partners, who will provide security & assistance on the ground- Sending out prepare to deploy orders (in process)- Provide up to 2 million meals/day- Under CENTCOM command
Officials have stressed that no soldier will enter Gaza:
None of the American forces will enter Gaza at any time, including to deliver aid or build the temporary pier, he said at the Pentagon. Ryder said the pier should be operational within about 60 days. “We’re working to set this up as quickly as possible, but we expect that it will take several weeks to plan and execute,” he said. “Once operational the actual amount of aid delivered will depend on many variables and will likely scale over time. However, we expect that deliveries via JLOTS could provide more than 2 million meals to the citizens of Gaza per day.” Not all the forces to be used in the operation had been selected as of Friday, Ryder said. However, the Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia had already been notified it would be deployed, he said. That unit is described by the Army as its JLOTS experts.
Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/middle_east/2024-03-08/gaza-temporary-seaport%C2%A0hamas-israel-humanitarian-aid%C2%A0-13255463.html
Source – Stars and Stripes
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