WASHINGTON — The US military has begun constructing a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid, the Pentagon confirmed Thursday.
US military vessels in the eastern Mediterranean have begun initial steps to construct both the pier and a temporary causeway, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters.
Earlier on Thursday, mortar rounds landed near the planned marshaling yard for onshore aid delivery. No US military assets were harmed, US defense officials said.
Ryder said the attack caused “minimal damage,” but he referred further questions to the Israeli military.
“The incident in no way delays our efforts to establish the maritime corridor,” Ryder said, adding that officials expect the pier and temporary causeway to be completed by early May.
“Those are being constructed offshore … nowhere near mortar range,” he said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
