(FreePressBeacon.com) – In response to the alarming growing tensions in the region, the United States has deployed its leading aircraft carrier group, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, toward the Middle East.
This move comes after U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered the carrier strike group to advance quickly to the area.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, which was previously stationed in the Asia Pacific, has been redirected to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Previously scheduled for the end of the month, the shift could speed up its arrival in the Middle East.
It comes in the aftermath of Austin’s recent security strategies discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon emphasized its commitment to defend Israel and “noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command commander Michael Kurilla is also in the Middle East, although his specific location remains undisclosed.
The region has been unsettled by ongoing conflicts, notably the recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, which has heightened tensions.
Haniyeh was killed in Iran during a visit for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has blamed the assassination on Israel and accused the U.S. of complicity, vowing to retaliate at an appropriate time and warning of “blood vengeance.”
This assassination follows a significant escalation on April 13, when Iran launched a missile strike against Israel, marking the first direct confrontation between the two.
The attack involved 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles.
Israel reported that 99% of these were intercepted with assistance from U.S. forces.
The international community, including the United Nations, has condemned the Iranian strike, and the U.S. has pledged ongoing support to Israel’s defense efforts.
Secretary of Defense Austin has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Central Command area of responsibility, adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 12, 2024
Copyright 2024, FreePressBeacon.com
