U.S. Sends Second Carrier Strike Group To Mediterranean In Support Of Israel

According to the statement, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason, in addition to the Carrier Air Wing 3 with nine aircraft squadrons and embarked headquarters staff.

The U.S. warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israel’s operations, but rather to send a message of deterrence to Iran and its allies in the Middle East, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The deployment is a “part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack on Israel,” Austin said in the statement.

The Eisenhowerwill CSG will join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which arrived off the coast of Israel last week. The Ford CSG includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy as well as the guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt.

The Eisenhower can carry more than 60 aircraft, including F/A-18 fighter jets, while the Ford can deploy more than 75 aircraft.

In addition, the U.S. Air Force announced earlier this week the deployment of F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the Middle East in support of Israel.

The U.S. was the first country to voice its support for Israel following the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack. At least 1,300 Israelis were killed and more than 3,000 were wounded in the attack. Hundreds others were captured by Palestinains fighters or went missing.

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Israel has already received several weapons shipments from the U.S. military. Meanwhile, Washington continues to ignore the high death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza that has reportedly exceeded 2,200 including hundreds of women and children.

Source: SouthFront.Press