The United States (US) has deployed a guided missile submarine to the Middle East amid escalating regional tensions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also directed an aircraft carrier already en route to the area to expedite its arrival.
This decision follows the recent assassinations of key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, sparking concerns of a broader conflict.
The move underscores the US commitment to protecting Israel, with Austin affirming that the US will “take every possible step” to defend its ally.
Iran, which blames Israel for the killing of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, is being closely monitored for any potential retaliatory action. Although Israel has not officially commented, it is widely suspected of being behind the assassination.
In a Sunday statement, the Pentagon announced the deployment of the USS Georgia, a guided missile submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are typically used against land targets.
Additionally, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, equipped with F-35C fighter jets, has been ordered to speed up its journey to the region, replacing another US ship.
The exact nature of Iran’s potential response remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia supported by Iran, may also strike Israel in retaliation for the killing of its senior commander Fuad Shukr, which occurred just hours before Haniyeh’s assassination.
EDITOR’S PICK:
- PM Starmer Supports Police to Keep Streets Safe from Extremist
- Leave Lebanon on Any Available Ticket, U.S. Urges Citizens
- Ukraine Destroys Russian Submarine in Crimea
Georgetown University’s Professor Mehran Kamrava suggests that the visible deployment of the US submarine is intended to deter Iran and Hezbollah. However, he hinted that privately, there might be indications of an imminent Iranian strike.
The heightened tension has also led several airlines to cancel flights to airports in the region. Lufthansa, Swiss Air, and Air France have all suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, and Tehran due to the perceived threat.
Other carriers like AirBaltic and EasyJet had previously suspended their flights to the area.
In a related development, the Biden administration views a ceasefire in Gaza, which includes the release of Israeli hostages, as the most effective way to de-escalate the situation.
Talks are expected to resume on Thursday, although Hamas has called for negotiations to build on existing agreements rather than start anew.
Washington has previously attributed the breakdown of talks to Hamas, but Israeli media reports suggest that the US increasingly sees Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as partially responsible due to his perceived concessions to far-right elements in his coalition.
Last week, for the first time, the White House criticized one of these coalition leaders, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who opposed US-led ceasefire efforts. White House spokesperson John Kirby denounced Smotrich’s stance as “dead wrong.”
The leaders of the UK, France, and Germany have joined the US in urging the resumption of ceasefire talks, emphasizing the need to prevent further escalation and stabilize the region.
CLICK TO WATCH OUR VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
