Lagatar24 Desk
Washington, D.C.: In a strategic response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, the United States has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the region, according to a Pentagon announcement on Sunday. This move follows the recent killings of senior leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, which have heightened fears of retaliatory attacks by Iran and its allies.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the deployment of the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, as a show of force amid rising regional instability. The submarine, previously stationed in the Mediterranean Sea, was publicly announced in an unusual move, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
The Pentagon also revealed that Austin, after discussions with his Israeli counterpart, ordered the acceleration of the Abraham Lincoln strike group’s deployment to the Middle East. The US has further bolstered Israeli defenses by sending additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region.
“Secretary Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel,” the Pentagon’s statement read, emphasizing the increased US military presence in response to the growing tensions.
The situation intensified after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Iran-backed Hamas, in Tehran on July 31. Iran blamed Israel for the killing, which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied. Additionally, the death of Hezbollah’s senior military commander, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli strike on Beirut, has contributed to fears that the conflict in Gaza may escalate into a broader Middle East war.
Iran has accused the US of complicity in Haniyeh’s assassination due to its support for Israel, further inflaming the already volatile situation.
As the US strengthens its military posture in the Middle East, the international community watches closely, wary of the potential for a wider conflict.
