USS Gerald R. Ford Source: U.S. Navy
The United States Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier and its strike group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on October 10, in a move meant to back Israel in its war against the Hamas Movement and other Palestinian armed factions in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was among several forces deployed to the area in order “to deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war.”
The forces included the actual aircraft carrier and support aircraft, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt.
“The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation,” General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement.
The decision to send the supercarrier came a day after Gaza factions launched a large-scale attack against Israel, killing 1,200, wounding more than 3,000 and taking more than 100 others hostages.
In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched an attack against Gaza. So far, more than 900 Palestinains have been killed in strikes on the strip.
US defense officials are reportedly considering sending another aircraft carrier to the region, in addition to the Ford. Officials told The Wall Street Journal and ABC News that the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower may also be sent to the Mediterranean waters near Israel.
Also on October 10, The first American aircraft carrying ammunition arrived in Israel on Tuesday night to help the country in its ongoing war with Gaza’s factions.
The plane landed at the Nevatim Air Base in Israel’s southern Negev Desert, carrying “advanced ammunition,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement.
In a speech on the same day, U.S. President Joe Biden said that Israel has a right and a duty to respond to the Hamas-led attack, which he called an “act of sheer evil”.
The President stressed the U.S. would “stand with Israel” and provide whatever assistance it needed. He also revealed that at least 14 Americans had been killed in the attack and other U.S. citizens had been taken hostage.
The U.S. unsurprising support for Israel could lead to more escalation in the Middle East. Lebanon’s Hezbollah called the U.S. a “partner” in the Israeli war, while Iranian-backed armed factions in Iraq made direct threats to American forces in the country.
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