According to US authorities, the Pentagon has directed the deployment of a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean near Israel to prevent any potential involvement of Iran or Hezbollah in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
A senior US official told incrow News that the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group will be sent to the eastern Mediterranean to join the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group that arrived earlier this week in international waters off Israel.
“I have ordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to begin transiting the eastern Mediterranean,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. “To prevent hostile acts against Israel or to prevent any attempt to expand this war following the attack by Hamas on Israel.”
Senior US officials said publicly this week that the deployment of additional US Air Force fighter jets to the region, as well as the presence of the USS Ford carrier strike group in the eastern Mediterranean, are to demonstrate US support for Israel and act as a deterrent.
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These more assertive positions are intended to send a deterrent message to Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and other allies who might be tempted to take advantage of the situation in the region, as well as to clearly demonstrate US support for Israel’s security. ” A senior US defense official said on Monday. “The current situation escalates the conflict.” “Those naysayers should think twice.”
Because of Eisenhower’s association with Ford, the deterrence message is reinforced by displaying greater strength.
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The Pentagon is also considering deploying the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship closer to Israel to provide further assistance if needed, according to a third US official. The decision to consider deploying the ship and its rotary-wing aircraft to the Middle East has been reported.
Early Saturday, the Eisenhower Strike Group departed Norfolk, Virginia, en route to a pre-planned deployment that will take it across the Mediterranean to the Middle East, where it will participate in exercises in the U.S. European Command domain.
As a result of its upcoming deployment, there was speculation that it could deploy to the eastern Mediterranean alongside the USS Ford, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “will continue to review both Eisenhower’s and Ford’s deployment plans as he sees fit,” a Pentagon statement said.
guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58), guided-missile destroyers USS Lavan (DDG-58), USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Gravely (DDG-107) and aircraft carrier USS.
