US Navy carrier strike group with F-35s and missile sub heads to Middle East

The United States is ramping up its military presence in the Middle East amidst escalating tensions in the region. On Sunday, the Pentagon announced that it is fast-tracking the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group along with a guided-missile submarine, the USS Georgia.

Initially, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had directed the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East earlier in the month. This was in response to rising fears of possible attacks on Israel, particularly from Iran and its associated proxies, following the recent killings of key leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah.

In light of the heightened tensions, Austin ordered the Lincoln to expedite its journey from the Western Pacific to the Middle East. Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder confirmed this accelerated transit in a statement.

Attached to the Lincoln, which is the leading ship in the US Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 3, is a carrier air wing that includes a squadron of fifth-generation F-35C stealth fighters. Once it arrives in the region, the USS Abraham Lincoln will enhance the existing military capabilities provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, which was reported to be in the Gulf of Oman last week.

In addition to the carrier strike group, Austin has also dispatched the USS Georgia, a guided-missile submarine capable of carrying over 150 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, to the Middle East. The submarine was last positioned in the Mediterranean Sea, as reported by US European Command on July 31.

Typically, the movement of submarines is not disclosed unless it is meant to send a strategic message to rival nations within the region.

This announcement followed a conversation between Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, where they reviewed “efforts to deter aggression” from Iran and its affiliates. The readout of their discussion emphasized Austin’s reaffirmation of the United States’ commitment to defend Israel and the recent bolstering of US military forces and assets throughout the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions.

The situation in the Middle East has been particularly fraught in recent weeks. Tensions escalated after Israel conducted an operation killing a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. This incident was swiftly followed by allegations suggesting Israel’s involvement in the assassination of Hamas’ political chief in Iran.

In response to these developments, both Iran and Hamas have vowed retaliation, raising concerns that any counteraction could lead to a spiraling conflict across the region.

To bolster defenses for Israel and US military personnel in the Middle East, the Pentagon had previously deployed additional military resources, which include the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and other warships equipped to intercept ballistic missiles. A squadron of F-22 Raptors, which are also fifth-generation stealth fighters, was sent to the region as part of these increased defensive measures.

The US already maintains a significant military presence in the Middle East. The USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group has been active in the Eastern Mediterranean, while various other warships have operated off the coast of Yemen.