The United States warned Iran or its allies against any “escalation” in the wake of Israel’s war with Hamas, two top US officials said Sunday, hours after the Pentagon moved to step up military readiness in the region.

“We are concerned at the possibility of Iranian proxies escalating their attacks against our own personnel, our own people,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CBS News. “We expect there is a likelihood of escalation.” Blinken said the United States, which has sent two carrier groups to the eastern Mediterranean, was “taking every measure to make sure that we can defend them. And if necessary, respond decisively.”

•Israel has since vowed to destroy Hamas and says around 1,500 of the group’s fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control of the area initially under attack.

•Austin said he had activated deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery and additional Patriot battalions “throughout the region.”

•Austin ordered the activation of air defense systems and notified additional forces that they may be deployed soon.

•Austin did not say how many US troops would be added to those already in the region.

Their comments came amid growing fears that pro-Iranian Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, or other groups supported by Tehran, might take advantage of the tense situation over Gaza to enlarge the conflict and further stretch Israel’s military. The steps continued the Biden administration’s response since Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip stormed Israel on October 7, taking more than 200 hostages and killing at least 1,400 people, according to Israeli officials.