A task force of 2,000 U.S. Marines and sailors are reportedly headed to the Middle East

  

 A task force of 2,000 U.S. Marines and sailors are reportedly headed to the Middle East to potentially help Israel as it continues fending off its deadliest attack by regional militants in 75 years. The troops are tasked with logistics and medical support and won't be in a combat role, though some could set foot on Israeli soil as part of those support plans, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday afternoon.

The Marines and sailors are en route via prepare-to-deploy orders, which doesn't guarantee they will deploy; but it does accelerate the process should circumstances change. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued the preparation orders on Sunday, CNN reported Monday evening.

Involved: The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which had been stationed near Kuwait for exercises. "The unit is on board the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault ship which is currently in the Gulf of Oman," CNN reported. The Navy is also sending the landing ship USS Carter Hall toward Israel, U.S. officials told CNN.
 

The U.S. military's top officer in the Middle East visited Tel Aviv on Monday for talks with Israeli officials. U.S. Central Command's chief Army Gen. Michael Kurilla spoke with Israeli chief of defense Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi "to gain a clear understanding of Israel's defense requirements, outline U.S. support efforts to avoid expansion of the conflict, and reiterate the Department of Defense's ironclad support for Israel," CENTCOM said in a statement Monday.