U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East in response to escalating tensions following the killings of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. The Pentagon announced the deployment of the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, which was already in the Mediterranean Sea. This public announcement of submarine deployment is a rare move by the U.S. military. Additionally, Austin ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region after speaking with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The U.S. is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East to protect Israel, deploying fighter jets and Navy warships. The recent assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh from Hamas in Tehran and Fuad Shukr of Hezbollah in Beirut have heightened tensions, with Iran blaming the U.S. for its support of Israel. Furthermore, a drone attack in Syria injured several U.S. and coalition personnel, adding to the volatile situation in the region.