Pentagon sends 12 F-16 fight jets to air base in Poland

The U.S. Defense Department confirmed on Wednesday that it is sending a dozen F-16 fighter jets and 300 personnel to the U.S. aviation detachment at Lask Air Base in Poland. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced last week that the United States would augment the aviation detachment in light of the situation in Ukraine and Pentagon spokesman Steven Warren provided details Wednesday in a meeting with reporters. Warren said that the F-16s will deploy from Aviano Air Base in Italy and arrive at Lask Air Base by the end of this week. "This enhancement marks another milestone in the rotational deployment of U.S. military aircraft that we began in late 2012," he added. Hagel and Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak agreed on March 9 to consider options for locations, with U.S. European Command deciding on the number of aircraft. "It's consistent with the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Poland," Warren said, adding that "augmenting this aviation detachment was a deliberate choice to demonstrate to our allies that U.S. commitments to our collective defense responsibilities are credible and remain in force."