Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he had ordered Ford Carrier Strike Group Sail to the Eastern Mediterranean, ready to aid Israel after the war is over Hamas attack More than 1,000 people have been killed on both sides. According to reports, Americans were among the dead and missing.
this USS Gerald R. Fordthe latest and most advanced navy aircraft carrierIts roughly 5,000 sailors and fighter deck will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force, ready for any scenario, including the possibility of preventing more weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.
The large-scale deployment reflects the United States’ desire to prevent the conflict from expanding into any region. But the Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light to take “significant military measures” to retaliate against Hamas.
A U.S. official said preliminary reports showed that at least four U.S. citizens were killed in the attack and seven others were missing and unaccounted for. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, said the numbers are constantly changing and could change as more comprehensive statistics are compiled. Most, if not all, of those killed or missing were dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, the official said.
In addition to the Ford, the United States has also dispatched the cruiser Normandy, the destroyer Thomas Hudner, the destroyer Ramage, the Carney and the Roosevelt, and the United States is strengthening its air force. of F-35s, F-15s, F-16s and A-10 fighter squadrons in the region.
“The United States maintains a global readiness posture to further enhance this deterrence posture if needed,” Austin said in a statement.
In addition, the Biden administration “will quickly provide additional equipment and resources, including ammunition, to the Israel Defense Forces. The first shipments of security assistance will begin today and arrive in the coming days,” Austin said.
The Norfolk, Virginia-based aircraft carrier strike group has arrived in the Mediterranean Sea. It conducted naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea last week. The aircraft carrier is undergoing its first full deployment.
Senior Pentagon and State Department officials briefed senators on Sunday night, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer saying they were confident the United States was providing Israel “everything they need.”
“I asked our representatives at the Department of Defense if they were providing Israel everything they needed, and their answer was yes, and their support continues to grow,” the New York Democrat said in a statement after the unclassified briefing. Makes me happy.”
“I asked them if they had rejected any of Israel’s demands and they said no. I urged them to ensure that Israel has everything it needs to protect itself and reiterated that the Senate stands ready to meet more needs,” he said.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed “the issue of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists, including entire families, the elderly and children,” during a phone call on Sunday, according to a White House statement. Biden stressed that all countries “must unite in the face of such brutal atrocities.”
The White House said the president updated Netanyahu on U.S. diplomatic efforts and said more aid was being provided to Israeli forces and that more would be provided in the coming days.
They also discussed ways to “ensure that Israel’s enemies do not believe they can or should benefit from the current situation.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Sunday with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates as part of U.S. efforts to prevent further escalation. In a separate statement on the three phone calls, U.S. Defense Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that in each call, he encouraged countries to “remain engaged” and “underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to deterring Hama.” attack in Sri Lanka and ensure the release of all hostages.”
In the US House of Representatives, leaders of the Foreign Affairs Committee are preparing a bipartisan resolution saying it “stands with Israel” and condemns “Hamas’ brutal war”. The resolution is expected to be one of the first items the House considers for a vote after electing a new speaker.
“Now is the time to show the world that the United States stands firmly with our friend and ally Israel in condemning this heinous attack by Iranian-backed terrorists,” said the committee chairman, R-Texas. Councilman Michael McCall said.
House business is currently at a standstill following the historic ouster of California Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Most Republicans plan to launch the election process privately Tuesday night at a forum where candidates can address colleagues. The real competition could come as early as Wednesday, when the House next convenes.
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AP Diplomacy Writer Matthew Lee and AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
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