As tens of millions of People collect along with family members to have a good time the Christmas holiday and ring within the new 12 months, a whole lot of hundreds of American women and men in uniform will mark the vacations away from household in decidedly much less festive corners of the world.
As of June, 165,830 U.S. service members have been on deployment throughout the Middle East, Indo-Pacific area and Europe. That determine has probably ticked larger amid current unrest throughout the Center East, and it doesn’t embody service members working at U.S. bases over the vacations and civilian personnel on abroad contracts.
Right here’s a take a look at the place service members will spend the vacations on deployment the world over:
Center East
Round 43,000 troops are stationed throughout the Center East as of October, a rise from the same old 34,000 amid the current unrest and outbreak of warfare between Israel and Iranian proxy forces Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Pentagon introduced in October it will be shifting troops into Cyprus to arrange for escalating unrest in Lebanon. And final week the Pentagon divulged that some 2,100 troops have been in Syria — not the 900 that they had lengthy claimed. One other 1,000 troops are in Iraq finishing up missions to thwart ISIS.
Europe
U.S. forces are stationed across Europe to assist NATO forces and deter any potential Russian aggression.
Main areas of deployment embody Germany (34,894), Italy (12,319) and the UK (10,180).
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Asia
U.S. forces associate with allies in Asia to conduct joint workout routines and coordinate on countering the specter of China and
Areas of deployment embody South Korea (23,732), Japan (52,852) and Guam (6,453).
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Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin thanked U.S. troops for serving over the vacation season in a Christmas message.
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“We all know firsthand the vacations could be particularly arduous in case you’re distant out of your family members. So for our troops stationed across the globe, we deeply recognize your sacrifice,” he mentioned. “We all know that your households serve too, and our army households are the inspiration of America’s energy.”
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