Washington DC [US], August 13: The United States is boosting its military presence in the Middle East even further, the Pentagon said on Sunday.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had spoken with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said. "Secretary Austin reiterated the United States' commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East."
Austin had ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, "to accelerate its transit" to the Central Command area of responsibility, Ryder said.
He had also ordered the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to the Central Command region - which includes the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of South Asia. Earlier, Austin announced the US would move a fighter jet squadron and ballistic missile defence-capable cruisers and destroyers to the US European Command and US Central Command regions.
Source: Qatar Tribune