Amid the IDF's preemptive strike in Lebanon this morning, the U.S. has sent a clear message to Hezbollah, Iran, and their proxies: The U.S. military is moving two aircraft carriers and an attack submarine closer to Israel, as reported by The New York Times.
According to the report, with growing fears of a broader war in the Middle East, the United States is steadily moving its naval forces closer to the region. The U.S. made this move explicit in a clear effort to deter Iran and its allies from launching an intensive attack on Israel.
Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin ordered additional fighter jets and missile-capable warships to the area. The report mentions that two aircraft carriers, named Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, along with their accompanying warships and strike aircraft, are now in or near the Gulf of Oman. Additionally, Austin issued an order to deploy the attack submarine Georgia to the region, a move described as unusual since the Pentagon rarely discusses the movements of its submarine fleet. The Georgia is capable of launching cruise missiles and carrying teams of U.S. Navy commandos.
The orders were issued in response to threats from Iran and its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen following the targeted killing of Hamas' political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran at the end of July. The New York Times noted that despite the U.S.'s concerted effort to avoid escalation and a broad regional war, an official said last night that the U.S. military is better positioned to confront a threat from Iran, while the IDF will shoulder most of the defense against Hezbollah attacks across the border in Lebanon.
* Maariv contributed to this article.