EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN: A second United States aircraft carrier is soon set to take up a strategic position near Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier recently traversed the Strait of Gibraltar, marking its journey toward the Middle East, as reported by the ship-tracking service FleetMon.
This aircraft carrier, accompanied by supporting vessels, is on a mission, as stated by US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin, to “deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack on Israel.”
It will be the second US aircraft carrier stationed in the region, with the USS Gerald Ford already positioned in proximity to Israel.
While the US has expressed its intention not to directly intervene in Israel’s actions in Gaza, it is widely acknowledged that the increased US presence in the region serves as a deterrence against potential threats from Iran and its proxies, particularly aimed at safeguarding US troops in Iraq and Syria.
Recently, the US military conducted strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups in retaliation for ongoing attacks on US military personnel in Iraq and Syria, reportedly conducted by forces aligned with Iran.
The presence of these aircraft carriers in close proximity to Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean is also perceived as a deterrent to prevent the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah from opening a second front, especially as Israel’s actions in Gaza intensify, including expanding ground operations in the Palestinian enclave.
The United States stands as a staunch ally of Israel, providing substantial military aid amounting to an additional $14 billion since the initial outbreak of hostilities when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Alongside financial support, the US has offered specialized military advisors, although it has refrained from endorsing a ceasefire, even in light of Israeli airstrikes causing the loss of nearly 8,000 lives, including over 3,000 children.
