Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is bolstering U.S. forces in the Middle East in an effort to deter others from escalating the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

On Saturday, Austin ordered an aircraft carrier to move to the Central Command area of responsibility in the Middle East in an effort to “bolster regional deterrence efforts,” according to a press release.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with its associated warships and fighter jets, was originally set to join the USS Gerald R. Ford, which is stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Eisenhower has now been redirected to Central Command, which covers the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and other Middle Eastern waters. The Pentagon is also fortifying its missile defense systems in the region and putting troops on standby.

“[We’ve] seen rocket and UAV attacks against bases housing our troops in Iraq and Syria. We’re concerned about potential escalation,” Austin said Sunday following the announcement.

“In fact, what we’re seeing is a prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops and our people throughout the region. And because of that, we’re going to do what’s necessary to make sure that our troops are in the right — in a good position, and they’re protected, and that we have the ability to respond,” Austin told ABC’s Jonathan Karl during an interview on “This Week.”

As Israel ramps up its counter attacks on Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack, concern is growing among U.S. leaders and members of Congress about the potential for Iran to escalate the conflict through its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have threatened to attack U.S. facilities there because of American support for Israel, according to the Associated Press.

The State Department is ordering non-emergency personnel to depart embassies in Baghdad and Erbil “due to increased security threats against U.S. government personnel and interests.”

On Sunday, Austin emphasized the message President Joe Biden hammered since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began earlier this month.

“As President Biden said earlier and as you’ve heard me say, if any group or any country is looking to widen this conflict and take advantage of this very unfortunate situation that we see, our advice is don’t. We maintain the right to defend ourselves, and we won’t hesitate to take the appropriate action,” Austin said.

Funeral services were set Sunday for a Detroit synagogue president found fatally stabbed at her home as authorities investigated a motive and asked the public not to draw quick conclusions.

Samantha Woll, who led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue and was a former aide to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin and campaign staffer for Attorney General Dana Nessel, was remembered as a community leader who worked to build bridges.

“Sam was as kind a person as I’ve ever known,” Nessel said Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter. “She was driven by her sincere love of her community, state and country. Sam truly used her faith and activism to create a better place for everyone.”

Funeral services were to take place Sunday afternoon in suburban Detroit.

Detroit Police Chief James E. White said the killing has left many unanswered questions, and he asked the public to be patient as investigators examine all available evidence. In a statement late Saturday, he said the department had “mobilized many of its resources and has been leveraging every law enforcement and community resource it has to help further the investigation.”

Police did not have an update Sunday morning.

Authorities said Woll’s body was found at her home Saturday morning after someone called officers to alert them of a person lying on the ground unresponsive.

“While at the scene, police officers observed a trail of blood leading officers to the victim’s residence, which is where the crime is believed to have occurred,” Cpl. Dan Donakowski said.

Woll, 40, had led the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue since 2022.

Religious groups in the Detroit area praised her interfaith work.

The Michigan chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations called her death a “tragic loss,” noting interfaith work with Woll’s congregation. That included a prayer vigil for the victims of the deadly 2018 attack on a Pennsylvania synagogue.

“We are troubled by the horrific murder of Samantha Woll, a beloved leader within her faith community in Metro Detroit,” said Dawud Walid, the Muslim advocacy group’s executive director, in a Saturday statement.

Slotkin also commented on X, saying Saturday that she was heartbroken by Woll’s death.

“In politics and in the Jewish community, she dedicated her short life to building understanding across faiths, bringing light in the face of darkness,” Slotkin said.