In a gesture of solidarity with Israel amid its war with Hamas terrorists, the United States is reinforcing its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that the Pentagon is sending its largest aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, to the region. The move follows Israel’s official declaration of war on Hamas, which marks the country’s first war since 1973.
The U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford, which is the Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, was already in the Mediterranean waters when the war declaration was made by Israel’s parliament on Sunday morning, according to The Daily Caller.
U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft squadrons, specifically the F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10, will accompany the carrier.
“The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,” Austin emphasized.
According to Austin, the intention behind the strategic relocation of U.S. forces closer to Israel is to “strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts.” The Pentagon’s decision was announced after multiple discussions with President Joe Biden.
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Austin further stressed the commitment of the United States to its ally, stating, “Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the material support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States’ ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people.”
Moreover, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the dedication of the U.S. by noting that the Pentagon is actively working to fulfill specific military aid requests from Israel, according to The New York Times.
Early Saturday morning, Hamas fighters infiltrated southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the capture of Israeli civilians and soldiers. Within the initial hours of the assault, over 2,200 rockets were reportedly fired, according to The New York Times.
In response to the aggression by Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has attempted to regain control of occupied territories and initiated retaliatory strikes on Hamas positions in Gaza.
The current death toll stands at over 1,100 on both sides, with thousands injured – numbers that are expected to continue to climb.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to the devastating Hamas attacks by committing to a “long and difficult war” against the terrorist organization and its affiliates, according to The Daily Caller.
This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.
