United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail to the Middle East amid rising tensions following the killings of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. The move comes after a phone call between Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Galant, where Austin reiterated the US commitment to defending Israel.
The USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, and the USS Abraham Lincoln were ordered to the region as part of a reinforcement of US military force posture and capabilities in response to escalating tensions. The USS Abraham Lincoln, which carries F-35 and F/A-18 fighter jets, had already been deployed to the area to replace another aircraft carrier.
The deployment follows the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killing of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut, sparking concerns of a regional war. The US announcement came after an Israeli attack on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza left at least 90 people dead.
Efforts for a ceasefire have been renewed, with Hamas calling for the implementation of a ceasefire proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden in May. The Pentagon noted that Austin and Galant also discussed mitigating civilian harm, securing a ceasefire, and the release of hostages held in Gaza.
The deployment of US military assets to the Middle East comes in response to heightened tensions in the region and concerns of Iran’s possible retaliation. With the situation in Gaza escalating, the US is taking steps to bolster Israeli defenses and prevent further violence.
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