The United States is assembling a war machine in the Middle East in a clear message to Iran to stay on the sidelines as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza to destroy the Hamas terror group.
Within hours of the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, the US began moving warships, fighter jets and special forces into the region.
Two aircraft carriers, including the world’s largest – the USS Gerald R. Ford – have been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, along with dozens of aircraft that could carry out air strikes.
Many more aircraft, including F-15 and F-16 fighter jet squadrons, have been deployed to US military bases in the region, doubling the number of aircraft available in the Persian Gulf.
Flight units that were due to return home soon have been told to stay put.
The US is increasing its forces in the Middle East
The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford steams alongside USNS Laramie in the Eastern Mediterranean
Three F-18 Super Hornets fly in formation over the USS Gerald R. Ford
About 2,000 U.S. Marines trained in special operations and amphibious landings have also been diverted from an exercise in Kuwait and are now aboard two warships somewhere off the coast of Bahrain.
The Pentagon is also preparing an additional 2,000 Army and Air Force personnel as a potential rapid response force.
It reflects concerns in Washington that Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist group, or Iran itself, could escalate the crisis into an even more devastating regional conflict.
The main goal of the US military is to deter Iran and its allies from taking aggressive steps.
The USS Gerald R. Ford had just completed an exercise with the Italian Navy before being ordered on its final mission.
It has a crew of 5,000 and carries 90 fighter aircraft, including F-18 Super Hornet jets, F-35 attack fighters and A-10 tank busters.
The aircraft carrier, which has a nuclear reactor, is equipped with an arsenal of weapons such as Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles and the Mk-15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, which is used to fire armor-piercing bullets.
Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jets fly alongside the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship in the Gulf of Oman amid rising tensions with Iran
US Marines are on their way to the Middle East after abandoning an exercise in Kuwait
A Hawkeye spy plane is launched from the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford
Five support ships, including destroyers, are armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs, surface-to-air, surface-to-surface and anti-submarine weapons.
A second aircraft carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, will arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in about a week, also accompanied by four other warships.
The aircraft carrier, also known as the ‘Ike’, has 5,000 sailors and can carry up to nine squadrons of aircraft, including fighter jets and helicopters.
The E2-Hawkeye spy planes will be able to provide early warning of enemy missile launches, conduct surveillance and detect Iranian aircraft.
The aircraft carriers can also be used as bases from which information warfare can be waged.
Much of the US operation is expected to be coordinated from US Central Command’s Forward HQ at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US base in the Middle East.
US Marines are in the area with Osprey aircraft that can take off and land vertically
F-18 Super Hornets on the world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford
Even before the new influx of firepower, the US had more than 30,000 troops in the region.
That includes 13,000 in Qatar, 7,000 in Bahrain, at least 3,000 each in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait, 2,500 in Iraq and 2,500 in Turkey.
Incirlik Air Base in Turkey is also home to fifty American B61 nuclear bombs.
In addition, approximately 2,000 U.S. Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit had just arrived in Kuwait for an exercise when the Hamas attack on Israel occurred.
They were soon told to get back to their sips – the USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall – and have come closer to crisis.
Currently, according to defense officials, they are “somewhere” off the coast of Bahrain.
Their ships carry MV-22 Osprey aircraft that can take off and land vertically.
A spokesperson told Military Times: “If they were given an order, they could participate in some operation in support of Israel.”
Meanwhile, a small team of special operations forces has also been sent to Israel to help retrieve hostages, including Americans, held by Hamas in Gaza.
The US Air Force F-22 Raptor at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
And the Pentagon has ordered about 2,000 additional U.S. troops deployed if needed in the coming days and weeks.
They would provide intelligence and surveillance, transportation and medical capabilities.
The 2,000 troops are likely to include air force and army personnel.
A Pentagon spokeswoman said the specific units had not yet been identified but could respond quickly.
She said: “This enhances our ability to respond quickly to the evolving security environment in the Middle East.
“No decisions have been made to deploy troops at this time. The Secretary of Defense will continue to assess our force posture and remain in close contact with allies and partners.”
Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed terrorist group, has stockpiled up to 150,000 missiles and rockets and could fire them far into Israel.
A subsequent war between Israel and Lebanon would be even worse than the current Gaza crisis, according to experts.
As Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza, Iran has warned of possible “preventive” action by Hezbollah.
Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, said on Monday: ‘All possible options and scenarios are there for Hezbollah. Every preventive measure is conceivable in the coming hours.’