Hegseth's nomination has run into trouble on Capitol Hill over allegations about his personal and professional life, and Trump allies increasingly think Hegseth may not survive further scrutiny.
"We are very supportive of the ceasefire, and the Department of Defense plays an important role here in the US and in working with partners in the region to prevent a wider conflict."
Among new instances is a near miss involving a commercial plane and a 'cylindrical object' near New York, still under investigation.
Some US officials doubt the feasibility of mass firings at a time of global turmoil.
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea had earlier said the first operation targeted a US aircraft carrier in the Arabian sea with a number of missiles and drones.
The Pentagon said in a statement that deployments would take place in the coming months and demonstrated the flexibility of the US military movements around the world.
Defense Secretary Austin's opposition to Knesset's UNRWA legislation highlights potential legal ramifications for Israel.
Shrapnel falls on central Israel after Hezbollah rockets • IDF confirms potential Hezbollah successor Hashem Safieddine killed
Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh doubled down that the letter was meant to be private correspondence and not intended for public consumption.
Biden and other US officials have said that strikes on nuclear facilities would be ineffective and "plunge the region into a full-scale war."