US builds up military presence in Middle East
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Pentagon is routing another aircraft carrier to the region and sending additional aircraft to Europe as the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates.
The Navy's aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, center, sails during a joint naval exercise in international waters off South Korea's southern coast on April 4, 2023. | South Korea Defense Ministry via AP
The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier rerouted from the South China Sea to the Middle East on Monday, a move that will put two U.S. aircraft carriers in the region as the conflict worsens between Israel and Iran.
Dozens of Air Force refueling aircraft also left their U.S. bases this weekend in a new deployment to Europe, a preventative measure to support any operations in the Middle East, according to two defense officials, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal operations.
The Trump administration is beefing up its assets in the region as Israel and Iran continue to lob rounds of missiles and airstrikes at each other, with concerns in the region that this will lead to a wider war.
The Nimitz will join the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which has sailed in the Arabian Sea since the spring. That aircraft carrier partnered with the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group to hit Houthi targets in Yemen and protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Nimitz could reach the Middle East later this week, the second defense official said, giving the U.S. two aircraft carriers in the region for the second time this year. But this also pulls a carrier away from the Pacific just as the administration says it wants to strengthen efforts to deter China.
The Pentagon last week ordered two destroyers in the Mediterranean to move closer to Israel to assist in protecting U.S. assets in the region. Israel also has used American air defenses to knock down Iranian drones and missiles targeting Israeli civilian infrastructure.
Last year, the U.S. sent several Patriot air defense batteries to the Middle East, including two pulled from the Indo-Pacific. Last October, the U.S. also deployed a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery, along with around 100 soldiers, to Israel to help intercept missiles fired by Iran and its proxies.
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Within two weeks, everything the US military needs will be there.
One man will make a very historic decision.
Ah yes, forever-2-week Donnie is back at it which likely means he's hoping for a squirrel to toss at the MAGA world who bought into his "no foreign interventions" mantra. I hear there are rumblings of disapproval coming from Bannon who visited the WH today.
Donny wants war, he has been dying to start a war. I am shocked he hasn't sent troops to support Putin.
Donald wants a dying horse he can kick and then extort.
Trump's healthcare plan will be released.
Either that or he's confused Iran with TikTok.
Yep, can't strike before being prepared to respond to Iran's retaliation. Trump is giving Iran every opportunity to open a dialogue. There's nothing stealthy about what Trump is doing.
Iran preparing to retaliate only provides Israel more targets. Seems that Netanyahu understands what Trump is doing, too. Sorry Ukraine, looks like more weapons are going to be diverted to something much more important.