US orders submarine to Middle East, carrier strike group to sail faster
Al JazeeraAug 15
US Sends Armed Submarine to Middle East
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Above: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin greets Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon on June 25, 2024. Image copyright: Andrew Harnik/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The US is sending a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, as well as speeding up the travel of an aircraft carrier already en route, amid concerns of potential attacks on Israel from Iran and Hezbollah in response to the killings of their militant leaders.
The submarine, the USS Georgia, carries up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles — which are used to strike land targets — while the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is carrying about 60 fighter jets, including F-35Cs.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While Iran and its proxies will cite the assassinations as their reason for their recent attacks, Israel had to target the men who were intentionally stalling Gaza cease-fire talks. If Iran-backed militias choose to remain on the offensive, the US and Israel — who are interested in completing a cease-fire Hamas refuses to accept — have no choice but to flex all their might to stop these terrorists from making any big moves.
Establishment-critical narrative
The cease-fire deal that was reportedly approved by Israel was a farce from the beginning, and Netanyahu lied to the US about it. Then, likely with the help of US intelligence agencies, Israel carried out unprovoked assassinations — calculated actions by Israel, which was hoping to make it look like Iran-backed proxies were obstructing peace and readying for war. If there's an escalation here, the US and Israeli warmongers will be to blame.
