Approximately 130 U.S. soldiers have returned to their bases after being deployed to Shemya Island, a remote Alaska island, with mobile rocket launchers. The deployment involved soldiers from Alaska, Washington, and Hawaii with the 11th Airborne Division and the 1st and 3rd Multi Domain Task Forces. This deployment was in response to a spike in Russian military activity off the western reaches of the U.S.
The deployment coincided with eight Russian military planes and four navy vessels, including two submarines, traveling close to Alaska as part of joint military drills conducted by Russia and China. Despite the proximity of the Russian military activity, none of the planes breached U.S. airspace, and a Pentagon spokesperson reassured the public that there was no cause for alarm.
