WASHINGTON, USA: The escalating tensions in the Middle East following the assassinations of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of the guided missile submarine USS Georgia to the region.
This move, which was publicly announced by the Pentagon, is a rare disclosure in military operations and highlights the severity of the situation.
The USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, had already been stationed in the Mediterranean Sea since July. However, the announcement of its redeployment underscores the US commitment to bolstering Israel’s defence amidst the current volatile environment.
Alongside the submarine, the Pentagon has also directed the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region, further enhancing U.S. military presence.
This decision follows the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Iran-backed Hamas, in Tehran on July 31, an act Iran attributes to Israel. The killing of Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, in a strike on Beirut has added to fears that the ongoing conflict in Gaza could escalate into a broader Middle Eastern war.
The U.S. military has already begun deploying additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the area to reinforce Israeli defences, a move that signals Washington’s determination to support its ally amid rising threats from Iran and its regional partners. The Pentagon’s actions come as the region braces for potential retaliatory attacks by Iran, heightening concerns of a wider conflict.
