Following the words expressed by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Carrier Strike Group of the United States Navy will remain deployed in the Middle East under the operational area of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) to reinforce the country’s presence as regional conflict intensifies between Israel and terrorist groups operating in Gaza and southern Lebanon.
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group of the 7th Fleet arrived at the end of August due to the escalation in the Middle East, following a call between Lloyd Austin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a preemptive strike against Hezbollah on August 25.
As a result, the aircraft carrier, along with its escort ships, had to move from its position in the Western Pacific to the 5th Fleet in the Middle East. Its presence is also accompanied by the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), leaving both in the waters of the Gulf of Aden.
Now, according to recent reports of Israeli airstrikes and the subsequent assassination of the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Lincoln and its destroyers will remain in the region to protect land and maritime targets from drone attacks, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
It is important to note that since June, U.S. Navy ships USS Wasp (LHD-10), USS New York (LPD-21), and USS Oak Hill (LSD-51) have been in the Eastern Mediterranean in anticipation of a potential conflict that could erupt in Lebanon, a situation that has recently intensified with the entry of Israeli Defense Forces troops.
This news, communicated by the Pentagon, also adds that “This presence at sea is complemented by an increased presence of combat and attack squadrons from the Department of Defense, including F-22, F-15E, F-16, and A-10 aircraft, and we will further enhance our defensive air support capabilities in the coming days.”
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