US aircraft carrier arrives in eastern Mediterranean
“The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrives in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in order to deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war,” CENTCOM said in a statement
The US Navy’s aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived in the eastern section of the Mediterranean Sea as the United States continues to deploy additional forces in the region amid the latest Israeli-Palestinian escalation, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said.
“The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrives in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea in order to deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
“Efforts to increase US posture continue, including the rapid movement into theatre of US Air Force F-15s, F-16s and A-10s to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region,” the statement says.
Gen. Michael Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command, said, commenting on the deployment: “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.”
The latest round of tensions in the Middle East was sparked by the October 7 attack of Hamas militants on the territory of Israel. According to the latest reports, clashes and shelling have left some 900 Palestinians dead and more than 4,500 wounded, and over 1,000 Israelis dead and over 3,400 wounded.
Hamas said its attack was in response to the Israeli authorities’ actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Israel has announced a state of readiness for war and for a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip.
