In a significant military build-up, the United States Navy has dispatched a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East, as tensions escalate during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The deployment of this nuclear missile-capable ship was announced by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) late on Sunday, signaling a show of force aimed at containing regional tensions.
The announcement by CENTCOM on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) stated, “On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility.” The image accompanying the post indicated the submarine’s movement through the Suez Canal.
This move comes as the United States strengthens its military presence in the region since the outbreak of the war on October 7. With Israel being its closest regional ally, the US has already deployed two aircraft carriers, extensive fighter aircraft, and around 1,000 American soldiers. Additionally, special operations commandos have been engaged to provide advisory support to the Israeli military in their Gaza operations.
In a bid to bolster the defenses of its Gulf allies, the US has also taken steps to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia and Patriot surface-to-air missile systems to Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder emphasized that the military build-up aims to deter regional escalation and protect the interests of the United States and its partners. Ryder stated in an October 24 press briefing, “Since that Hamas terrorist attack, we’ve also been crystal clear that we do not want to see the situation in Israel widen into a broader regional conflict. Our message to any country or group thinking about trying to take advantage of this situation to widen the conflict is don’t.”
To address the escalating tensions and seek diplomatic solutions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on a trip to meet with regional leaders. His itinerary included talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad.
However, the US military assets have faced significant challenges from Iran-allied militias in Syria and Iraq since October 7. These groups have launched numerous attacks on US bases, with the most severe incidents occurring on October 17 and 18 when 21 US military personnel were injured in al-Tanf garrison in Syria and Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.
The deployment of the guided-missile submarine underscores the United States’ commitment to ensuring stability in the region and preventing the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict into a broader regional war. As tensions continue to rise, the international community closely watches the developments in the Middle East.
