USA (Washington Insider Magazine)— On Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. He encouraged its crew for their active role in helping thwart a broader confrontation in the Middle East during the Israel-Hamas war. It is part of the New security initiative to prevent Red Sea attacks.
The aircraft carrier became a powerful sign of America’s defence of Israel. It is sailing closer to Israel after it was attacked by the group Hamas on October 7. The nuclear-powered Ford is a small sailing city of more than 4,000 troops. It has eight squadrons of aircraft. Austin has unfolded the Ford’s deployment three times. He hoped its presence would make Iran and Iran-aligned groups fearful. Lebanon’s Hezbollah considered twice before entering the fight against Israel.
“This carrier and crew are making history. Sometimes our greatest achievements are the bad things that we stop from happening. And at a moment of huge regional tensions, you all have been the lynchpin to preventing a wider regional conflict,” Austin said, addressing the ship.
The duration of Ford’s presence in the eastern Mediterranean is unclear whether it will depart for its residence port in Virginia before Israel pushes from high-intensity action in Gaza to a different, more restricted stage of the war to dismantle Hamas.
On Monday, Austin examined preparing for the shift with Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv. He highlighted international lament over the high civilian casualties in Gaza. However, When Israel might start, that shift is ambiguous. Austin informed reporters in Israel that he was not there to lecture timelines to the Israeli leadership.
Iran’s supporters in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen all of whom are attempting to inflict costs on Israel and Washington over the Gaza conflict. In Iraq and Syria, U.S. troops have survived drone and rocket invasions by Iran-backed militia. Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen have upset global trade by striking commercial tankers and container ships in the Red Sea. Hamas drones and missiles are ready any time to attack Israel. U.S. warships have reacted by hitting them down and responding to distress calls.
Additionally, On Tuesday, Austin announced the development of a maritime security initiative. It aimed to react to the attacks. He called a meeting of more than 40 defence ministers, calling on them to donate ships.
Austin also met senior leaders in Qatar. It enabled broker a truce between Israel and Hamas and is one of few countries with an open line of contact to both nations.
U.S. and Israeli administrations expressed the rapid deployment of the Ford. This step came after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war sent a critical message to Hezbollah. They caution about the costs of extending a significant new front for Israel.
“We could have, I think, found ourselves in a very different situation had that not happened,” an Israeli military official said anonymously.
Experts say tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border are still high. Israel remains concerned about a potential ground invasion in the north.
“A continuing deployment of the Ford and (its) carrier strike group remain critical to limit further escalation,” said Seth Jones at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.
The Ford is the U.S. Navy’s latest aircraft carrier. It is vast, with more than 95,000 pounds of mail dispatched to it and more than 3.5 million meals served. Its air wing has brought out more than 8,000 sorties. Further, more than a quarter of them have been transferred to the eastern Mediterranean Sea after the war in Gaza started.
Since leaving Norfolk in the first week of May, Ford’s troopers and surveillance planes have conducted over 8,000 assignments. The crew, Austin remarked, has been advancing at full speed. Moreover, consuming more than 100,000 Monster energy drinks and 155,000 Red Bulls.