US sends Carrier Strike Group to Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday that the Ford carrier strike group has been ordered to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean in readiness to assist Israel following a surprise attack by Hamas, resulting in over 1,000 casualties on both sides.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, a carrier vessel with approximately 5,000 personnel and a deck of warplanes, will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers to showcase readiness for a range of actions, including intercepting potential weapon shipments to Hamas and conducting surveillance operations.

This substantial deployment underscores the United States’ concern in preventing further escalation of the conflict. The Israeli Government officially declared war on Sunday and authorized “significant military steps” in retaliation against Hamas.

Initial reports suggest that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks, and seven more were reported missing and unaccounted for, according to an anonymous U.S. official. Most of the individuals affected are believed to be dual U.S.-Israeli citizens.

Accompanying the USS Ford, the U.S. is dispatching the cruiser USS Normandy, destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. Additionally, the U.S. is reinforcing Air Force squadrons in the region with F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft.

“The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,” stated Secretary Austin.

Moreover, the Biden administration is swiftly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first batch of security assistance will start moving today and is expected to arrive in the coming days.

The carrier strike group, based in Norfolk, Virginia, was already present in the Mediterranean, engaging in naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea last week. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the newest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet, and this deployment marks its first full mission.