U.S. deploying second carrier strike group near Israel as Gaza ground invasion looms
The USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier will join the USS Gerald R Ford carrier, as part of the U.S. “effort to deter hostile actions against Israel”
The U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Courtesy of Wikimedia/U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Miguel A. Contreras
This article originally appeared on Haaretz, and was reprinted here with permission. Sign up here to get Haaretz’s free Daily Brief newsletter delivered to your inbox.
The U.S. will deploy a second aircraft carrier strike group near Israel, further bolstering its military presence in the Mediterranean amid concerns of an escalating conflict with Iran and Hezbollah.
The bolstered military presence comes as U.S. officials are increasing their public urging to Israel to obey the laws of war amid Gaza’s growing humanitarian crisis, all while Israel continues to prepare the next stages of its military operations in Gaza.
The USS Eisenhower carrier strike group will join the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group, which was deployed earlier this week as part of the U.S. response to the Hamas attack against Israel. U.S. officials, however, have stressed the deployment is a deterrent and a symbol of U.S. commitment to Israel, rather than an indication of potential U.S. involvement in Israel’s looming ground operation in Gaza.
The Eisenhower strike group – whose deployment was first reported by ABC News and later confirmed by CNN – includes the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, a guided missile cruiser and three guided missile destroyers. They join the group already present, which includes a carrier, a cruiser and four destroyers.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that “The increases to U.S. force posture signal the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war.”
The second strike group departed earlier this week on a long-scheduled deployment to the European Command area of responsibility, but has since been rerouted to the Mediterranean given the tense state of affairs.
Beyond the two deployed strike groups, CNN reported the Pentagon is also considering the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship closer to Israel to provide additional support if needed. The ship in question is composed of more than 2,000 marines and sailors capable of supporting a large-scale evacuation – including the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a rapid-reaction force capable of conducting special operations including evacuation operations and humanitarian assistance.
The U.S. has additionally already delivered Iron Dome interceptors, some of which have come out of the U.S. stockpile in Israel but with more to come. The augmented A-10 fighter squadrons additionally arrived in the Middle East in recent days, as did the F-15 and F-16 squadrons. It previously announced it was augmenting the F-35 squadron, as well, in addition “rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arrive in the coming days.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke earlier Saturday with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, during which he “discussed the importance of adhering to the law of war, including civilian protection obligations, and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza while Israel continues its operations to restore security,” according to Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.
This followed a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu, during which they discussed the “U.S. coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food, and medical care. President Biden affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians,” according to the White House.
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