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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a limited number of U.S. troops to prepare for deployment in support of Israel, as reported by multiple sources.

Approximately 2,000 troops have been selected to be on standby for advisory and medical assistance.

The troops will be drawn from various branches of the U.S. military, including those already stationed in the Middle East and nearby Europe.

While their specific units and deployment locations have not been disclosed, it has been emphasized that they will not have a combat role.

The U.S. is extending support to Israel, which is engaged in a conflict with Hamas, primarily focusing on intelligence and planning assistance for potential hostage rescue operations.

The Israeli government has not confirmed the specific claim that Hamas attackers beheaded babies during the attack on Saturday, contradicting an earlier statement by the Prime Minister's office. An Israeli official stated that while there have been cases of Hamas militants committing brutal acts, they cannot confirm the identity of the victims, such as whether they were children, soldiers, or civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had indicated the beheadings occurred, but his office later released photos showing burned bodies without specifying their ages. Explosive allegations about decapitated children emerged earlier in Israeli media, and the Israel Defense Forces described the scene as a "massacre." However, Hamas denied the allegations, and CNN could not independently verify the claims.