Dozens of U.S. troops have been deployed to Cyprus amid sharply escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, and they are preparing for a range of contingencies including a possible evacuation operation from Lebanon for U.S. citizens should a full-blown war erupt, four U.S. officials told CNN.Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said earlier this week that the U.S. military would be deploying 맥스카지노�a small number of U.S. military personnel forward맥스카지노� to the region 맥스카지노�out of an abundance of caution.맥스카지노� But he declined to say how many troops were deployed, where they were sent, and what branch they belonged to.Cyprus played a key role in helping to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon during Israel맥스카지노�s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006, facilitating the departure and accommodation of tens of thousands of people at the time as they fled the conflict.Cyprus맥스카지노�s deputy government spokesperson, Yiannis Antoniou, told Reuters last month that the island nation is again on standby to help if needed.The U.K. announced on Tuesday that it was sending 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for a possible emergency evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon if one becomes necessary.맥스카지노�The most important message from me this evening is to British nationals in Lebanon, to leave immediately and I just want to reinforce that,맥스카지노� said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The U.S. State Department has also repeatedly warned U.S. citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial travel options are still available.Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have reached new highs over the last week, beginning when Israel carried out covert attacks that detonated Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies. Israel followed up by pounding Beirut and southern Lebanon with airstrikes that have killed hundreds of civilians and Hezbollah fighters in recent days.The militant group has responded with rocket attacks targeting Israeli sites including Ramat David air base east of Haifa, and on Wednesday launched a missile directly at Tel Aviv which was intercepted by Israeli air defenses. Later on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces announced it would be calling up two reserve brigades for a mission in northern Israel.Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the U.S. is 맥스카지노�working tirelessly맥스카지노� on diplomatic efforts to prevent an 맥스카지노�full-blown war맥스카지노� between Israel and Lebanon.맥스카지노�Risk of escalation in the region is acute, and I know that we are all very much focused on that,맥스카지노� Blinken told his counterparts in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.A U.S. official told CNN on Monday that 맥스카지노�we are the closest we맥스카지노�ve been to spiraling to a regional war맥스카지노� since Hamas맥스카지노� Oct. 7 attack.One of the biggest concerns for the U.S. right now is that Iran, which is a key backer of Hezbollah, will get involved, the official said. Tehran has not intervened yet, but they will if they believe they are about to lose their most powerful proxy force, Hezbollah, the official added.