The United States deploys military assets to the Middle East amid rising tensions following the assassinations of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East in response to escalating tensions. The move came after a phone call between Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Galant following the killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah members.
The Pentagon stated that Austin reaffirmed the US commitment to defend Israel and enhance military presence in the region. The USS Georgia submarine was already in the Mediterranean Sea, while the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was originally in the Asia Pacific before being rerouted to the Middle East.
The US aims to reinforce Israeli defenses from potential Iranian attacks, following Iran’s threats of retaliation for the killings. The announcement comes amid renewed efforts for a ceasefire in the region after a deadly Israeli attack on a shelter in Gaza.
Hamas has called for the implementation of a ceasefire proposal by US President Joe Biden, urging the US, Qatar, and Egypt to take action. The situation remains tense as concerns mount over a potential expansion of the conflict into a regional war.