The United States has dispatched a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and expedited the arrival of an aircraft carrier in response to escalating regional tensions.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the USS Georgia submarine has been sent to the area, and the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which includes F-35C fighter jets, will arrive sooner than planned.
This response comes amid fears of a broader conflict following the recent assassinations of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders.
Austin reaffirmed the US commitment to defending Israel, stating, “We will take every possible step to defend our ally.”
The deployment aims to deter potential Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation, particularly following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in Tehran.
Iran has blamed Israel for the killing and vowed to retaliate, although Israel has not officially commented.
The Pentagon’s move also follows Hezbollah’s threats to respond to the killing of its commander Fuad Shukr and disruptions in regional travel.
Several airlines, including Lufthansa, Swiss Air, and Air France, have suspended flights to and from key Middle Eastern cities due to heightened security concerns.
Georgetown University’s Professor Mehran Kamrava suggested the visible deployment of the submarine serves as a deterrent, while private indications might suggest imminent Iranian actions.
The Biden administration is advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza and resumption of negotiations, but Hamas has insisted that any talks must adhere to prior agreements rather than initiating new negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces criticism from both US and Israeli sources over his handling of the ceasefire talks.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have called for an immediate resumption of ceasefire discussions, emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation and find a path to stability.
