Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to take
every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military
force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of
escalating regional tensions.
Austin has also ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to
accelerate its deployment to the region.
The USS
Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, was already in the Mediterranean Sea in
July, according to a US military post on social media, it was a rare move to
publicly announce the deployment of a submarine.
The US military had already said it will deploy additional
fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East as Washington seeks to
bolster Israeli defenses.
Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Iran-backed Hamas,
was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran on July 31. Iran blamed Israel
for the killing. Israel has not claimed responsibility.
The assassination and the killing of the senior military
commander of Hezbollah, Fuad Shukr, by Israel in a strike on Beirut, have
fueled concern the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war.
Iran
has said the US bears responsibility in the assassination of Haniyeh because of
its support for Israel.
Reuters reported several US and coalition personnel
were wounded in a drone attack on Friday in Syria, in the second major attack
in recent days against US forces amid soaring tensions in the Middle East.
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