According to a US military post on social media, the nuclear-powered submarine was already in the Mediterranean Sea in July
WASHINGTON: On Sunday. August 11, 2024, the Pentagon announced the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East ordered by U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. The move comes as the region braces for possible retaliation from Iran and its allies, following the recent assassinations of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. This announcement from the United States came one day after at least 90 people were killed and nearly 50 injured in an Israeli attack on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, Palestinian health authorities said.
According to a US military post on social media, the nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Georgia was already in the Mediterranean Sea in July. This was a rare move on the Pentagon’s side to announce a submarine’s deployment publicly. After a conversation with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Galant, Secretary Austin also ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group is going to be replaced by Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East. The Abraham Lincoln strike group had been in the Asia Pacific before.
A statement by Maj. Gen.Pat Ryder, the Press Secretary of the Pentagon read- “Secretary Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions,”. He further added, Austin had reiterated to Gallant America’s commitment “to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions.” Earlier, the US Military had already said it would be sending additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster Israeli defenses.
Middle East news: The assassination that fueled the tension
On July 31st, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Iran-backed Hamas, was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran. This attack drew threats of revenge by Iran against Israel, which is fighting the Palestinian Islamist group in Gaza. While Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, Iran blames Israel for the killing. The situation worsened with the assassination and the killing of Fuad Shukr, the senior military commander of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, in an Israeli strike on Beirut. This has fuelled concerns about the conflict in Gaza turning into a wider Middle East war.
Iran has accused the United States, saying they bear responsibility in the assassination of Haniyeh because of their support for Israel.
Amid Israel-Iran tensions, several U.S. and coalition personnel were wounded in a drone attack on Friday in Syria, according to a report by Reuters. This marked the second major attack in recent days against U.S. forces amid soaring tensions in the Middle East.
Since Israel began its war on Gaza last October after Hamas launched a surprise attack, nearly 40,000 people have been killed. According to estimations, 1,139 people were killed during the attack on Israel with more than 200 people taken captive by Hamas.
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