- US sends submarine to Middle East as tensions grow
- Tensions in the Middle East are escalating following the assassination of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders
- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US will “take every possible step” to protect its ally
- It remains unclear how Iran might respond to these developments
US sends submarine to Middle East as tensions grow
The US has deployed a guided missile submarine to the Middle East as regional tensions escalate following the assassination of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also announced that an aircraft carrier, which was already heading to the area would sail there more quickly.
This move highlights the US’s commitment to defending Israel, with Austin stating that the US will “take every possible step” to protect its ally. The deployment comes amid concerns that Iran may retaliate for the assassination of Hamas’s top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran on July 31- a killing for which Iran blames Israel.
The Pentagon confirmed the deployment of the USS Georgia, a submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Additionally, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, equipped with F-35C fighter jets, has been ordered to accelerate its journey to the region.
While the US bolsters its presence, it remains unclear how Iran might respond to these developments.
Might not be the perfect time to crack a joke, but that’s pretty much how almost everyone in the #MiddleEast feels at the moment.#Israel #Iran #Hezbollah #US pic.twitter.com/omY7thLvji
— Bachar EL-Halabi | بشار الحلبي (@Bacharelhalabi) August 12, 2024