Amidst heightened tensions with Iran, the United States is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East. A US aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets are expected to arrive in the region in the coming days, according to US officials.
The move comes as Israel reportedly prepares for the possibility of a US military strike against Iran. While President Trump has stated that a “great force” is heading towards Iran and that he is monitoring the situation closely, he also expressed hope that further military action against Tehran would not be necessary. However, he emphasized that the US would act if Iran resumed its nuclear program.
“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump stated in an interview.
The deployment includes warships, such as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as well as destroyers and fighter aircraft. These assets began moving from the Asia-Pacific region last week as tensions escalated following recent protests in Iran.
One US official indicated that additional air defense systems are also being considered for deployment to the Middle East.
While the US often increases its force levels in the region during times of heightened tension, experts suggest this particular build-up could be purely defensive in nature. However, the US military previously conducted a significant build-up last summer before launching strikes against targets in Iran.
Meanwhile, the Israeli security establishment is reportedly preparing for the possibility of a US military strike against Iran, anticipating a strong response from Tehran that could include attacks on Israel. Israeli assessments suggest that a US attack would likely trigger retaliatory measures from Iran.
