By D. Maan, Jadetimes News
US Deploys Submarine to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
The United States is deploying a guided missile submarine to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the area. The US made the decision after Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier already on its way to the area, would increase its pace.
Those strategic moves come in the face of the fear of a wider conflict after recent high profile assassinations of top leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas. The US is trying to underline its commitment to defending against threats to Israel, first of all, Iran. Secretary Austin said that the US would "take every possible step" to protect its ally.
Closely watched is Iran following the July 31 assassination of Hamas's top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. Iran's ruling regime has accused Israel of masterminding his assassination and has promised to retaliate. Israel has not confirmed or denied the charge, although its involvement in the incident is widely believed.
In a statement, the Pentagon announced the USS Georgia, a guided missile submarine, was being sent to the region. A carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln will rush to the region, equipped with F35C fighter planes, to replace another US naval vessel already there. What form Iran's response could take is not clear.
The Iran-backed militia and political organization Hezbollah, headquartered in Lebanon, has also vowed retaliation for the killing of its senior commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut's southern suburbs just hours before Haniyeh's assassination.
Georgetown University Professor Mehran Kamrava postulated on Qatar's Al Jazeera that the US's public deployment of a submarine is meant as deterrence not only to Iran but to Hezbollah. He further hinted that there may be some private indication about the possibility of an Iranian strike.
Increased tensions have necessitated the cancellation of a number of flights to regional airports by several international carriers. Germany's Lufthansa is halting flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, and Tehran until August 21, citing security concerns. Swiss Air and Air France also joined the list by canceling or extending the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut, respectively.
Back in April, Iran's previous attack on Israel showered it with aerial drones and missiles following an assault targeting its consulate based in Syria. For the Biden government, securing a permanent truce in Gaza serves as a precondition toward calming regional tensions, while new talks are called for.
However, Hamas reacted to US efforts by insisting that any new ceasefire negotiations must be based on their previous demands, rather than starting fresh talks. Therefore, the statement by the group read between the lines to mean an agreeable willingness to engage in negotiations.
The US has hitherto accused Hamas of delaying ceasefire talks, while reports in the Israeli media indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is equally to blame over his alleged pandering to far-right members of his coalition who oppose a ceasefire.
The White House further criticized Israel's finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, last week, saying he had opposed US-led efforts for a ceasefire and was "dead wrong" and "making unfounded claims".
The trio leaders, of the UK, France, and Germany, have further called for the resumption of ceasefire negotiations. The prime minister of the UK, Sir Keir Starmer, French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a joint call, joined all sides for them to meet as soon as possible in talks that are to solve the crisis. They agreed to work with all others to ensure there is no more deterioration and also calibrate the way to progress.
