US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of the nuclear submarine USS Georgia and accelerated the transfer of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East. This move is part of a broader effort to bolster the US military presence in the region amid escalating tensions.
In a statement from the Pentagon, Austin confirmed his actions following a telephone conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant. The call reaffirmed the US commitment to Israel's security and addressed the need to strengthen military presence due to recent regional tensions.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, equipped with F-35C fighter jets, is being expedited to the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is already deployed in the area. The USS Georgia nuclear submarine, armed with cruise missiles, will also be sent to the region under the Central Command of the US Armed Forces (CENTCOM).
Austin and Galant discussed the current military actions in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire. They also addressed concerns about preventing potential aggression from Iran, Hezbollah, and other Iranian-affiliated groups.
The situation in the Middle East has intensified following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, chairman of Hamas’s politburo, in Tehran on August 31, and the elimination of Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah commander, in Beirut. Both incidents have heightened tensions between Israel, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Israel has not commented on Haniyeh's assassination but has described Shukr’s death as retaliation for attacks on the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, which resulted in 12 casualties. Hezbollah has denied involvement in the Golan Heights attack.
The deployment of additional US military assets underscores Washington's commitment to supporting its allies and maintaining stability in the region amidst rising hostilities.
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Based on materials from TASS