By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, the Pentagon said Sunday.
In a phone call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Austin reiterated the US’s commitment to take "every possible" step to defend Israel, the Pentagon said in a statement.
"Reinforcing this commitment, Secretary Austin has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Central Command area of responsibility, adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group," it added.
Additionally, Austin ordered the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) guided missile submarine to the Central Command region.
The defense chiefs also discussed Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip and the importance of mitigating civilian harm, progress towards securing a cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, and US efforts to deter "aggression" by Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, and other Iran-aligned groups across the region, the Pentagon added.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced that the US will deploy additional military assets to the Middle East ahead of possible retaliation by Iran against Israel.
Tensions are running high in the Middle East following the July 31 assassination of Hamas’s political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran and Israel's assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on July 30.
Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination, while Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied responsibility.
Iran vowed "harsh punishment" for Israel for Haniyeh’s killing on Iranian soil.
Hezbollah is also expected to retaliate after Israel assassinated Shukr.
The escalation comes amid an ongoing Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 39,800 Palestinians following an attack on Oct. 7 last year by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas that killed 1,139 Israelis.