The Pentagon confirmed that the United States is sending the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the Middle East and is speeding up the arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, equipped with F-35C fighters “in light of escalating regional tensions.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the dispatch of the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the region, and further ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to accelerate its ongoing transit to the area.
The moves came amid mounting fears that Iran might soon respond to the assassination of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran last month after attending the inauguration ceremony for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Both Iran and Hamas blamed Israel for the killing, and while Israel has remained quiet on the matter it is widely believed to have carried out the assassination.
As Israel braces for retaliatory attacks from Iran and its proxies after the assassination of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement Monday: “We’re following Hezbollah and Iran and ready. We’re at highest alert.”
According to a readout of the Pentagon conversation, in a conversation with Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant,” Secretary Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East.” The two defense officials “also discussed Israel’s operations in Gaza and the importance of mitigating civilian harm, progress towards securing a cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza” as well as efforts to deter Iran, Hezbollah, and other Iran-allied groups in the region.
On Monday, the leaders of the U.K., Germany and France released their own joint statement calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, the release of the hostages and the “unfettered” delivery of aid to Gaza, and urged Iran and its proxies, like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, to refrain from attacks that could further escalate the conflict in the region. The joint statement read: “They will bear responsibility for actions that jeopardize this opportunity for peace and stability. No country or nation stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe punishment” for the assassination, but it remains unclear exactly how Iran plans to retaliate.
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