The Pentagon is positioning warships and other military assets in West Asia to help protect Israel and American troops from possible Iranian retaliation to Israeli strikes, US officials said. Naval destroyer USS Thomas Hudner was directed to move to the eastern Mediterranean, and a second destroyer may soon follow, officials said.The Air Force will most likely move additional fighter aircraft to the region soon, an official said. The assets are not being moved to take part in any offensive against Iran, a defence department official said.