Anger over Tennessee Guard's MENA mission 'helping Israel' amid hurricane havoc

The US announcement of the Tennessee National Guard Task Force deployment to the Middle East has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that they would be better tackling the state’s ongoing hurricane disaster.  

Last Thursday, Tennessee's Department of Ministry said that over 700 soldiers would leave their home state later on Saturday to receive training in Fort Bliss, Texas over the coming weeks before being deployed to Kuwait. 

According to the military, the initiative will span a year and is reported to be in support of the US Central Command’s Operation Spartan Shield, where US forces have been defending Israel from potential attacks by Iran.

"Our service members have spent the last year conducting rigorous training and preparing to deploy in support of Operation Spartan Shield," Jason Tomberlin, commander of the Tennessee Task Force, said in a statement. 

"As an extremely formidable force of deterrence in the Middle East, we will accomplish our mission with dignity and honor and look forward to returning home when our job is complete."

However, many have since expressed fears that deploying reinforcements amid escalations in the region would come at the expense of addressing the Hurricane Helene crisis, which has killed at least 90 people across six states, including Tennessee.  

Millions more have faced power outages and destroyed roads, with calls for a better emergency response to the storm. 

"Meanwhile members of the Tennessee National Guard are being 'deployed to the Middle East' while a flood destroys their neighbourhoods," one user wrote in a post on social media platform X. 

"Instead of all hands on deck as first responders, they’ll be on a base in Kuwait for the sake of apartheid Israel. Americans need to be angry."

Several more have taken to social media to additionally blame US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their handling of Hurricane Helene and demanded a postponement of the Tennessee National Guard’s deployment. 

"The state simply does not have the resources to handle all of this now that their National Guard is overseas," independent journalist Nick Sortor wrote on X. 

"[YouTuber] Chris Hall and I just delivered 50 pizzas to first responders and the hospital in Newport, TN. It’s the first hot, fresh food they’ve had since the storm."

The US has reiterated its stance to maintain its "robust" military presence in defence of Israel amid its nearly-year bombing campaign in Gaza and its widening war across the region. 

White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby asserted Israel's right to "eliminate" any threats on Sunday, after killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and over 20 top officials. 

"There is already a very robust military capability to defend ourselves and to help defend Israel," Kirby said on US broadcaster ABC, confirming that additional forces had been sent since Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones against Israel in April. 

Over the past week, Israel has heavily bombed Lebanon, killing hundreds and displacing up to one million people. 

Since mid-September, Israeli strikes across Lebanon have killed more than 1,000 people, according to authorities.