NEW YORK, October 25. /TASS/. Israel has agreed to delay its ground operation into Gaza so that the United States can transfer additional air defenses into the Middle East, The Wall Street Journal said citing sources.

According to the daily, Washington intends to deploy about a dozen air defense systems to the Middle East so as to protect US troops in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Israeli authorities have agreed to wait until the United States deploys the systems. The additional air defense systems are expected to be placed as early as later this week.

The newspaper said that Israel was also taking into account in its planning the diplomatic efforts to free more of the hostages in the Gaza Strip as well as a humanitarian aspect. US officials told The Wall Street Journal that Washington believes that, the US Armed Forces will be subject to attacks from a variety of armed groups in the region after the launch of the ground operation.

It was previously reported that more than 20 US troops were wounded last week in drone attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria. In total, US and coalition forces were attacked ten times in Iraq and 3 more times in Syria between October 17 and 24.

Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.