In response to growing tensions in the Middle East, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided missile submarine, the USS Georgia, to deploy to the region. Additionally, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has been instructed to expedite its journey to the area.
The moves come as the US and its allies push for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, following the recent assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Officials are bracing for potential retaliatory strikes from Iran and Hezbollah.
In a statement, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder revealed that Secretary Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, reaffirming the US commitment to defending Israel and highlighting the strengthening of US military presence in the region.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, currently in the Asia Pacific, was already scheduled to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East. However, the latest order from Secretary Austin has accelerated the Lincoln’s deployment, although the exact timeline remains unclear.
The Lincoln is equipped with F-35 fighter jets and F/A-18 fighter aircraft, and its arrival in the region is expected to bolster US military capabilities. The USS Georgia-guided missile submarine is also en route to the Middle East, although its expected arrival time has not been disclosed.
Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant also discussed Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the importance of minimizing civilian casualties. The call comes after a devastating Israeli airstrike hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, resulting in significant loss of life and injury.
