The order comes straight from the Pentagon. This Monday, August 12, Lloyd Austin ordered the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincolncarrying F-35C fighter jets, to “accelerate its transit” to the Middle East. But that’s not all. According to his spokesman, Pat Ryder, the Secretary of Defense also ordered the deployment of the nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine USS Georgia in the same area.
It must be said that for several weeks now, fears of a regionalization of the war between Israel and Hamas have continued to grow, the Pentagon indicated on Sunday. And for good reason, the specter of a large-scale offensive by Lebanese Hezbollah supported by Iran, or by Iran itself, against Israel seems to be getting closer.
And the situation has been all the more tense since the assassinations in July of Hezbollah military leader Fouad Chokr, near Beirut in a strike claimed by Israel, and that in Tehran of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Two deaths attributed to Israel, which the Hebrew state has not denied.
The United States, historic support against Iran
Reason why the “United States is banking on deterrence”, deciphers the specialized military site Opex360. Thus, Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant this Sunday, reaffirming “the importance of reducing the harm done to civilians, of progressing towards the conclusion of a ceasefire and the release of the hostages held in Gaza”, explained Pat Ryder. The two ministers also reportedly discussed several avenues aimed at deterring the proxies Iran to attack the Hebrew state.
A few hours later, Yoav Gallant hammered home that “whoever attacks us in an unprecedented way risks being hit in an unprecedented way.” And the one who claims to have at his disposal “significant capabilities” to operate from the Tel Hashomer military base: “I hope they will think about this and not push us to a point where we would be forced to cause significant damage and increase the chances of starting a war on other fronts. We do not want that, but we must be ready.”
These countries that favor diplomacy
Across the Atlantic, the Pentagon reiterated in a statement published this Sunday, “the commitment of the United States to take all possible measures to defend Israel.” Last week, Washington had already announced the reinforcement of its military presence in the Middle East, deploying more warships and combat aircraft. In addition, according to Opex360, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp “stands ready in the Mediterranean to launch a possible operation to evacuate civilians.”
Unlike other allies of Israel, such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany, which are banking above all on diplomacy to end the conflict. In a joint statement published on Monday, these three countries called on Iran and its allies to “refrain from attacks that could aggravate regional tensions and compromise the possibility of achieving a ceasefire and the release of the hostages.” And they repeated: “No country or nation has anything to gain from a new escalation in the Middle East.”
While Israel agreed to resume talks on August 15 for a truce and the release of hostages held by Hamas, French President Emmanuel Macron hammered home on Friday that the war must “stop” in Gaza. “Everyone must hear it. It is crucial for the Gazans, for the hostages, for the stability of the region that is at stake today,” the head of state wrote on X.