US Nuclear Submarine Arrives in Middle East

Facts

• US Central Command announced on Sunday that a US Ohio-class submarine has arrived in the Middle East, as tensions in the region continue to escalate amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.¹
• It is not clear which nuclear-powered submarine was sent to the region, as the US has 14 Ohio-class submarines that can launch ballistic missiles and four additional vessels that carry Tomahawk cruise missiles.²
• Media reports indicate that the vessel has the capacity to fire 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, each with a payload of 1K pounds of explosives in their warheads, and is joining two aircraft carriers already deployed to the region last month. Israel has reportedly welcomed the sub's arrival.³
• US officials have stated that the purpose of the military buildup in the Middle East is to protect the country's interests and deter US adversaries. US forces have recently seen increased attacks in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-backed militias. The US has also deployed around 1K troops to advise the Israeli military.⁴
• The US is further reportedly preparing to send Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to Saudi Arabia and Patriot surface-to-air missile systems to Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.⁴
• The submarine's arrival comes as Israeli forces continue their encirclement of Gaza City in the north of the strip, with the Israeli military saying that Gaza has been split into two parts. The US is still concerned that Iran and Hezbollah will intervene directly in the bloody conflict that began last month.⁵

Sources: ¹CNN, ²The Hill, ³Daily Mail, ⁴Al Jazeera and ⁵The Guardian.

Narratives

• Anti-Iran narrative, as provided by FOX News. The US is taking the appropriate steps to deter Iran from starting a regional war. It must be made clear to Iran and its proxy forces throughout the region, whether they be in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, or Yemen, that the US will not tolerate more regional escalation. After Hamas's barbaric attack on Israeli civilians, it is necessary for the US to stand with Israel and ensure the region's stability and security.
• Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by PressTV. The arrival of this submarine is just more evidence of the US' complicity in the destruction of Gaza, as Israel mercilessly attacks the strip. Iran and its regional allies will, of course, act accordingly in response to US aggression, and it is imperative that Israel's war on Gaza comes to an end as soon as possible to prevent a regional war.

Predictions