Washington [US], August 22: The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its escort warships have arrived in the Middle East after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered an acceleration amid tensions in the region.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), in charge of the Middle East region, announced on August 22 that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, carrying F-35C and F/A-18 fighters, had entered the command's area of ​​responsibility.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3, escorted by Destroyer Squadron 21 and Carrier Air Wing 9.
Thus, the US currently has at least two aircraft carrier strike groups in the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The US military ordered the Lincoln to replace the Roosevelt amid escalating tensions following the assassinations of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders that Israel was accused of carrying out.
Defense Secretary Austin earlier this month ordered the Lincoln from the Pacific to speed to the Middle East .
Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate against Israel for the two assassinations.
Regarding the regional situation, US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on August 21. The White House issued a statement saying that the two leaders discussed the ongoing US effort to support Israel's defense against the full range of threats from Iran and its proxy groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi .
Biden stressed the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and releasing hostages, discussing the upcoming round of talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles. Earlier, President Biden said that a deal in the Gaza Strip could prompt Iran to abandon its plans to retaliate against Israel, helping the Middle East avoid a region-wide conflict.
In another development, the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion was adrift in the Red Sea on August 21 after being repeatedly attacked and set on fire. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said two small boats attacked the Sounion about 142 km west of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
The fires caused the ship to lose its engines and drift. There were no reports of injuries among the 25-member crew, including two Russians and the rest Filipinos, Reuters reported.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi forces have been attacking international shipping near Yemen since November last year in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in the Hamas-Israel conflict. However, the force did not immediately claim responsibility for the August 21 attack.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper