US deploys guided missile submarine to Middle East

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, the Pentagon said yesterday, Reuters has reported.

While the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, was already in the Mediterranean Sea in July, according to a US military post on social media, it was a rare move to publicly announce the deployment of a submarine.

In a statement after Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, the Pentagon said Austin had ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region.

“Secretary 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,” the statement added.

The US military had already said it will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to bolster Israeli defences.

Tensions in the Middle East have risen in recent weeks after Israel assassinated Hezbollah Commander Fuad Shukr, then a strike – mere hours later – killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh while he was visiting the Iranian capital, Tehran. Both Hamas and Iran blame Israel for the assassination of Haniyeh and Tehran has vowed revenge. Israel has not claimed responsibility.

Read: Palestine presidency holds US government accountable for Israel’s killing of over 100 in Gaza strike