US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has directed the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, the Pentagon announced on Sunday. This move comes as the region braces for potential retaliation following the recent assassinations of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. The USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine, was already stationed in the Mediterranean Sea in July, according to a US military social media post. The Pentagon’s decision to publicly announce the submarine’s deployment is notable for its rarity. Following a conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Austin also ordered the Abraham Lincoln strike group to expedite its deployment to the region. “Secretary Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to defend Israel and emphasized the enhancement of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions,” the Pentagon statement read.
