U.S. officials have been working to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, but now they are increasing military presence in the region.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of the USS Georgia, a guided missile submarine, to the Middle East, a rare publicized move for U.S. military officials.
Additionally, Austin instructed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to expedite its journey to the region, joining the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group already stationed there.
Over the weekend, an Israeli airstrike hit a mosque and school in Gaza used as a shelter, resulting in at least 80 deaths and 50 injuries, many of whom were women and children.
Israeli officials claim Hamas fighters were concealed in the shelter, justifying the attack. Meanwhile, the threat of retaliation from Iran on Israel looms after a senior Hamas leader was assassinated in Tehran, which Iran blames on Israel.
An ongoing conflict in the region prompted the U.S. State Department to affirm its commitment to assisting Israel’s defense with military capabilities while diplomatically working to prevent further escalation.
Efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas are ongoing, with a meeting scheduled for Thursday involving officials from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to send negotiators to the meeting, while Hamas seeks to move forward with a previous cease-fire agreement without additional discussions.
