US deploys B-52s and warships to ME as aircraft carrier sets sail
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Over the past year, the United States has deployed as many as two aircraft carriers to the Middle East amid the ongoing Israeli aggression in Lebanon and Gaza.
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Illustrative: In this photo from the US Navy provided, aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, left, air-defense destroyer HMS Defender, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut, transit the Strait of Hormuz with the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf, November 19, 2019. (US. Navy via AP)
The United States announced, on Friday, that it would be deploying B-52 bombers, fighter jets, refueling aircraft, and Navy destroyers to the Middle East as part of a realignment of military resources while the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group gets ready to depart the region.
The Pentagon stated that these deployments would occur in the coming months and highlighted the "flexibility of the US military movements around the world."
"Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies choose to target American personnel or interests in the region during this time, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people," Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
Over the past year, the United States has deployed as many as two aircraft carriers to the Middle East amid the ongoing Israeli aggression in Lebanon and Gaza.
The big picture
The withdrawal of the Lincoln will create a gap in aircraft carrier presence until another is deployed to the Middle East. This latest shift in US military forces follows direct exchanges of fire in October between "Israel" and Iran.
The United States has pledged to support the Israeli occupation in its defense efforts while also safeguarding US forces in the Middle East, who have encountered attacks from Resistance groups in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and off the Yemeni coast.
Iran response to 'Israel' inevitable: IRGC deputy chief
Iran's Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, confirmed, on Thursday, in a statement to Al Mayadeen that Iran's response to any Israeli aggression was "inevitable," emphasizing that "for over 40 years, we have never left any attack unanswered."
"We can target everything the Zionists possess in a single operation," Fadavi said, adding that the martyrdom of resistance leaders "strengthens rather than weakens the resistance."
He also noted that "Israel believed it had eradicated Hezbollah with the martyrdom of the Ummah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and other resistance leaders," however, "Hezbollah is now stronger than before."
According to Fadavi, Hezbollah's attacks on Israeli positions have intensified, both on the ground and in the air, which indicates that the Resistance is still as dynamic and strong as before.
Earlier this month, Brigadier General Fadavi praised the unique performance of the Resistance Front, stating that it had strengthened its power throughout the region over the past year. He highlighted the unity of resistance forces across Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Yemen in their stance against enemies.
Read more: US-Israeli proposals do not include permanent ceasefire: Source
