Written by Anthony Constantini

What’s happening: President Joe Biden recently announced that he would travel to Israel in a show of support for the country. Afterward, he’ll head to Jordan. This comes amidst fears that the conflict — so far mostly limited to Israel and Gaza — may spread further.

• Why it matters: Even with the pullout in Afghanistan and the gradual drawdown in Iraq, the United States still has thousands of troops based throughout the Middle East, and now another 2,000 near Israel. If the conflict escalates into a wider regional war, the chance of direct American involvement increases significantly.

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