Media Wire

US aircraft carrier arrives in eastern Mediterranean

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to “deter any actor” looking to escalate or widen the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the administration of US President Joe Biden has announced.

The forces include the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford; its eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft; the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy; and the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt, according to a Pentagon statement.

In addition, Washington has moved US Air Force F-15s, F-16s and A-10s “to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region.”

“The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation,” US Central Command head Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin first announced Sunday that the US carrier strike group had moved closer to Israel in response to the Palestinian group Hamas launching a major attack on Israel.

Politico reported Tuesday that the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was previously scheduled to deploy from Norfolk, Va., may join the USS Gerald R. Ford in the eastern Mediterranean.

In a coordinated surprise attack that began Saturday, Hamas sent forces into multiple Israeli towns by land and sea and struck multiple targets with rockets.

More than 1,200 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed in the conflict along with 14 US citizens as of Tuesday. American citizens also are among those being held hostage by Hamas, the White House has confirmed.

The violence has prompted the United States to send air defenses, munitions and other equipment to Israel, with promises to send more.

Moving the US ships and aircraft to the Eastern Mediterranean is also meant to act as a deterrent to other nations or groups stepping into the conflict, according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

“Let me be clear, we did not move the carrier for Hamas,” Sullivan told reporters Tuesday at the White House.

“We moved the carrier to send a clear message of deterrence to other states or nonstate actors that might seek to widen this war,” he added.

Though he did not identify specific groups at the time, US officials have said they’re worried the Lebanese group Hezbollah could make “the wrong decision” and choose to open a second front to the conflict.

Sullivan stated that President Biden ordered contingency planning.

“The president has also tasked us with engaging in contingency planning for any and all escalation scenarios,” he said, adding, “And we are now deeply engaged in that planning. And we’re consulting with allies and partners as well about all of the potential scenarios that might unfold in the days ahead.”

IFP Media Wire

Reports and views published in the Media Wire section have been retrieved from other news agencies and websites, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website. The IFP may change the headlines of the reports in a bid to make them compatible with its own style of covering Iran News, and does not make any changes to the content. The source and URL of all reports and news stories are mentioned at the bottom of each article.

Recent Posts

Israel claims has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Israel says its military has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the Gaza Strip. The…

14 hours ago

UN says nearly all Gaza’s population in poverty

The United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has announced that “nearly 100 percent” of Gaza’s…

15 hours ago

NGO warns new humanitarian crisis unfolding in Syria

A “new humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Syria”, the Norwegian Refugee Council warned Thursday, as…

16 hours ago

Iran FM, Egyptian president urge halting Israeli crimes in Gaza, Lebanon

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi met on Thursday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi…

18 hours ago

Gaza ceasefire deal talks have stalled for nearly a month: Qatar

There have been no negotiations for a hostage release and ceasefire agreement for almost a…

19 hours ago

“Very high” risk of cholera spreading in Lebanon: WHO

The risk of cholera spreading in Lebanon is “very high”, the World Health Organization warned…

19 hours ago