US Sends Armed Submarine to Middle East
The US is sending a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, as well as speeding up the travel of an aircraft carrier already en route, amid concerns of potential attacks on Israel from Iran and Hezbollah in response to the killings of their militant leaders....
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Facts
- The US is sending a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, as well as speeding up the travel of an aircraft carrier already en route, amid concerns of potential attacks on Israel from Iran and Hezbollah in response to the killings of their militant leaders.[1]
- The submarine, the USS Georgia, carries up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles — which are used to strike land targets — while the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is carrying about 60 fighter jets, including F-35Cs.[2][3]
- According to the US Navy, the USS Georgia, which can carry up to 66 soldiers, was being used by Marines and special forces beginning July 17 to conduct dive training in the Mediterranean. It was then reportedly seen off the coast of a Greek island Aug. 5.[3]
- Israel and the US are expecting attacks for the killing of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr around the same time. This comes a day after Israel struck a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, killing dozens.[4]
- It also comes after the US, Israel, the UK, France, and Jordan worked together to defend Israel against 300 Iranian missiles and drones launched in April. While that same coalition could be used again, US national security spokesman John Kirby said they 'don't want to see escalation.'[5]
- The US has provided few details regarding a potential attack from Iran or Hezbollah, other than Kirby saying it 'could happen as soon as this week.'[1]
Sources: [1]Wsj, [2]BBC News, [3]Newsweek, [4]Al Jazeera and [5]Jerusalem Post.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by U.S. Department of Defense and Council on Foreign Relations. While Iran and its proxies will cite the assassinations as their reason for their recent attacks, Israel had to target the men who were intentionally stalling Gaza cease-fire talks. If Iran-backed militias choose to remain on the offensive, the US and Israel — who are interested in completing a cease-fire Hamas refuses to accept — have no choice but to flex all their might to stop these terrorists from making any big moves.
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The Nation. The cease-fire deal that was reportedly approved by Israel was a farce from the beginning, and Netanyahu lied to the US about it. Then, likely with the help of US intelligence agencies, Israel carried out unprovoked assassinations — calculated actions by Israel, which was hoping to make it look like Iran-backed proxies were obstructing peace and readying for war. If there's an escalation here, the US and Israeli warmongers will be to blame.
