US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Saturday the dispatch of a second aircraft carrier group to the Mediterranean amid escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip.
The US warships do not intend to participate in military operations in Israel, but their presence seeks to send a message of restraint to Iran and groups such as the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah, with the aim of preventing them from taking advantage of the situation. to attack the Jewish state. .
In a statement, Austin explained that the deployment of this second aircraft carrier group was made as part of Efforts in Washington to “discourage actions against Israel or any attempt to expand this war after Hamas attacks Israel.”
This second group of aircraft carriers will be led by USS Dwight D. Eisenhowera sophisticated nuclear-powered ship that participated in US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first group of warships sent by the US to the region, led by USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived this week in waters near Israel.
In addition, the US has strengthened its military presence in the region by deploying combat aircraft, including the sophisticated F-35 and F-15.
On Saturday, October 7, Hamas attacked several Israeli cities, to which Israel responded by declaring a state of war and bombing the Gaza Strip, representing the worst development in decades of conflict in Palestinian-Israeli.
According to the latest data provided on Saturday by the State Department, 29 US citizens died in the attacks. It was not determined whether the victims died as a result of Hamas or Israeli attacks.
In addition, according to the State Department, 15 American citizens are missing, as well as one permanent resident, some of whom are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas.
