Oct 25 (Reuters) - Israel has agreed to delay an expected invasion of Gaza for now so that the United States can rush missile defences to the region to protect U.S. troops there, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing U.S. and Israeli officials. U.S. officials have so far persuaded Israel to hold off until U.S. air-defence systems can be placed in the region, as early as later this week, the WSJ said. Israeli soldiers drive in a tank by Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, October 10, 2023. The U.S. military and other officials believe their forces will be targeted by militant groups once Israel launches its ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory, according to the report. Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison Williams and Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 25, 2023 17:08 UTC