US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, currently in the South China Sea, to expedite its transit to the Central Command area of responsibility, where it will add to the capabilities already provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.
In addition, the Ohio-class submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) has also been ordered to the Central Command region as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate following the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beruit.
The move came after Secretary Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions.
Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant discussed Israel’s operations in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of minimizing harm to civilians, advancing towards securing a ceasefire, releasing hostages held in Gaza, and working to deter aggression by Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and other Iran-aligned groups across the region.
Israel is expecting a major Iranian attack to be launched within days, though the military sought to downplay this by stressing that instructions to civilians were unchanged. The Axios news site, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the details, reported Sunday that Israel’s current assessment was that Iran would launch a direct attack on the country.
Amid heightened tensions over an anticipated attack on Israel from Iran, the chief of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar has barred servicemembers from travelling abroad, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) says.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany issued a joint statement warning Iran not to attack Israel, calling on it to avoid sending the region spiralling into an all-out war.
“We are deeply concerned by the heightened tensions in the region, and united in our commitment to de-escalation and regional stability,” the statement reads.
