U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel during the current conflict.
The following is the statement from Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Force Posture Changes in the Middle East.
“My thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel and the many families who have lost loved ones as a result of the abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas. Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts.
I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean. This includes the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). We have also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required.
In addition, the United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days.
Strengthening our joint force posture, in addition to the materiel support that we will rapidly provide to Israel, underscores the United States’ ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people. My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks.”
Why are hate crime laws not being used against those people in Acton celebrating these terrorist mass murders in Israel?
We have pro Palestinian marches happening here in Sydney too and some supporters are clearly happy even delighted over all the killings. What an absolutely perverted level of thinking to any sane human being. The religious and ethnic hatred must run deep. Awful for the civilians of both sides. Shocking to watch from the comfort our TV’s, phones and homes.
remember the military Easter Uprising in Dublin in 1916 ?
No one remembers the 310 civilians who died ( plus 140 military and police) as its the leaders of that event are celebrated today
When Britain executed the ring leaders after a court martial there was an uproar over their deaths, especially in US and civilian deaths forgotten.
Its political-military events where partisan viewpoint will decide which events to focus on.
The uproar in the US and elsewhere had to do with the fact that the court-martials were held in secret with no defense allowed and commanders of British troops involved in suppressing the uprising were involved in the trials. Oh, and the trials were later declared illegal. And why mention that most of the civilian deaths were the result of indiscriminate British artillery fire. How dare that people get upset over this, especially in the US.
Martial law was declared so all civil rights were suspended – for every one.
The artillery fire wasnt indiscriminate, under the circumstances, this was 1916 there was limited accuracy for this sort of light artillery – remember the IRA was holed up in major buildings of various kinds.
Its accepted now that the blame is placed on those who began a war or rebellion not those resisting it. See Ukraine 2022.
The only legal quibble was the trails were secret , but that wouldnt change much for those condemned to death (around 90) 82% had the sentence commuted. They were involved in armed rebellion – in wartime
There was no judicial ruling saying they were illegal , just an opinions from the IRA supporters
I think your understanding of courts martial is lacking – Ill soon get the Free States own executions without trail at all in its civil war
Free States executions were around 83 , may be higher as some summarily shot in the country would have listed as combat deaths.
At the start of the anti treaty rebellion , political supporters who were in prison for various reasons and had not taken part were taken out of their cells and shot with trial or conviction – 4 of those
https://www.irishacademicpress.ie/product/the-irish-civil-war-law-execution-and-atrocity/
And the US hanged a number of people for treason…infact they at one point managed to hang a Mexican citizen on Mexican soil for treason against the US..during the American occupation of Mexico…they even hung one poor man for ripping down a U.S. flag…..As for the Easter rising..in law these were British citizens who incited and undertook an armed rebellion in a time of war….no nation would have done anything other than condemn for treason these it’s own citizens who were in armed revolution, who fired on and killed solders..infact the UK arrested 3000 rebel fighters…the only 15 rebels were executed was actually incredibly restrained for any nation in that time period….they could actually have tried and hanged the whole 3000 according to the law of the time.
Okay it’s not us, but thank goodness the US has these assets in the right place.
We have a static aircraft carrier in RAF Akrotiri not far off. Would be nice to see us supporting Israel from the air too
As a guess id assume US has moved assets to Cyprus too.
Why would we support Israel ? they have pretty much 100% always looked after there own interests first and formost. Take the Russia and Ukraine conflict as the latest example
Some commentators must have Prussian ancestry – any war will do, but not my family sent into a combat zone
I was a bit surprised with the PM statement going as far as he did with supper for Israel. It sounded like the U.K. would help militarily if required.
On the .gov website
The Prime Minister spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel. He reaffirmed that the UK will stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror. The Prime Minister offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs
That’s diplomatic support…especially with the western aligned Arab nations that are going to bet twitched at the number of civil casualties that will inevitably occur in Gaza.
We don’t really have that sort of relationship with Israel. Friendly and cordial yes….military intervention on behalf of no….Sharing intel related to the direct security of that nation…yes as long as it does not compromise our own interests….Isreal does not need military support in this it needs nations to show solidarity and cut it some slack for what is going to be an intervention into Gaza that will be heavy with civilian casualties…and to proved a bit of top cover on the international stage ( with Arab nations we have influence with).
It seems unlikely that either air support from Akrotiri or the Ford would really add anything, given the capabilities that Israel already has.
What is an aircraft carrier air wing going to so against an insurgency type situation.
Its just political theatre
It’s a presence and a sign of intent to use if necessary. Not sure if I like the word “theatre” but you’re right, this attack has certainly grabbed the world’s attention off from Ukraine and other places of conflict going on right now. It’s as if we’ve all switched channels for the moment.
Its not mentioned that Gaza is under Israeli land, sea and air blockade- some limited access into Israel for local work
How ungrateful Hamas attack their powerful neighbour and dont accept being a subjugate peoples
How understanding the world is that Isreal expands its settlements into Palestinian territory in the west bank- invasion by moving your people to displace the locals and vowing never to leave
I think we’ll have to leave the historical background to this conflict to the experts and those that really know to make an informed comment here. The attacking of unarmed civilians, in anyone’s language, is evil, cowardly and unfortunately might get an equally awful and justified by the victims, response. Religion, humanity, socusl order, gone, thrown out or blown out of the window.
Sounds like you want to ignore the historical facts ( left to experts ?, doesnt need expert to state the obvious) and concentrate on your favourite talking point ( horrendous as that may be )
No, not at all. It’s easy to take sides, even if intellectually and both sides will have their rights and wrongs. I personally don’t like Israeli-Jew bashing or Arab bashing for that matter and i know extremely little of the history of this region and conflict. In terms of truth and facts, they will sooner or later come out regardless of one’s own opinions. Locally we’ve just had a huge pro Palestinian rally here in Sydney overnight and some of the commentary was just so not called for and called out by our PM. We’ could get a counter rally sometime soon. We’ve also got our referendum on Indigenous recognition going on here this weekend just to add to it. Nothing as violent as Gaza but some are drawing parallels over dispossession of land and cruel mistreatment historically and wanting legal recognition and regaining access to their land. Some truths to face up to here in our own backyard and hopefully a workable outcome for all but it’s looking very divisive.
ROFLMAO, it’s endlessly mentioned! The reason Hamas attacks is to repeat that message and to whip up anti-Israel sentiment. I’ve seen more Palestinian spokespeople on UK TV over the last three days than I’ve seen over the last ten years.
You are right about limited work permits into Israel, although I doubt there are any of those at the moment, and you should also mention that Gazans can cross into Egypt at any time… for a price.
The Gazan blockade is caused by the attacks, not the other way around. Before 2000 and the second intifada, there was no blockade and Israel was endlessly offering to end the occupation in exchange for peace. Even during the withdrawal in 2005, peace was on the cards, but then Hamas.
But then Hamas. Like any tyrant, once they get power they do all they can to make sure they don’t lose it. The citizens of Gaza suffer again. Isreal also suffers. Who gains and what do they gain?
I would say it’s a message to state actors not Hamas.
I look at it as a warning to Iran and others to stay out or the US will get involved.
Unless I’m missing something isn’t this just a Political show of support ? It’s the the standard go to reaction of all US Presidents to most threats (specially in an election year). Send a Carrier group to the Taiwan Straits, carry out a freedom of navigation cruise in the South China Sea, Straits of Hormuz etc etc etc.
Looks good, plays well on TV and displays true Presidential resolve and leadership of the free world. Yep that’s me being a Cynic 😉
And in practicable use, in this case it’s as much use as a Chocolate Fireguard ! Can anyone actually see the USN bombing Gaza City or providing Fire Support for an Amphibious landing. Gaza City is a densely overpopulated area and its population has nowhere to run to (not Israel nor Egypt) it would be a massacre.
Thats one of the US big problems it sometimes lacks incremental steps between doing very little and massively overarching military force.
Sometimes what you need is something big, very easily usable, massively powerful, completely obvious, right in your face and damn near impossible to do anything about.
Just wait and someone will ask the sodding obvious question “what would happen if they had an Iowa BB sat 2 miles off the coast ?”. Toilet Roll time 🥴
As a realist the US will be shipping what ever supply’s Israel needs to them PDQ, providing diplomatic cover and above all else trying to figure out how the hell the Israelis either missed this one coming. Or something else 🤔
If they were going to take direct action it would be a blockade and B52’s. Neither of which would make for pleasant TV.
Handy to have a US carrier group there, in case Lebanon, Syria and/or Iran get involved.
Was in Split in the 90’s, when the USMC did a practice invasion of the Croatian coast. There was an armada of ships, including two LHDs and some LPDs off on the horizon with a flurry of Huey, Cobra and Sea Knight helicopter activity. Along with the LCACs racing to shore and the snails pace lumbering AAVs.
But what did stand out the most, was the battleship cruising up and down just behind the LHDs. I can’t remember which one it was, but it was huge! We also knew that the Nimitz was somewhere behind the horizon, as we were invited for a visit and got flown out to it by RAF Chinook.
I know the age of the big gun battleship is long past. But seeing this behemoth just off the coast certainly did give a sense of shock and awe. I think they did a similar thing off Lebanon, when the USMC Beirut compound got bombed. Except this time with kinetic effects. From memory they sailed the ship within a few Kms off the coastline, so everyone could see who and more especially what was firing.
To be brutally honest one of the reasons why the US has sent in the Navy, could be not only a political move in support for Israel. But also a show of force to Iran in particular. That has a very large force in neighbouring Syria and has factions operating in Libya. But also is the main backer of Hezbollah in Lebanon. It seems likely that due to Hamas’s actions, other anti-Israeli groups will feel emboldened and try their luck. Which is why Israel have mobilised troops to their Northern and North Eastern borders. I honestly don’t believe the USN will be involved in supporting Israeli reprisals in Gaza.
It is very likely that Gaza will either be forcibly pushed back to the stone age, as Israel are in the process of cutting off all power and water supplies, along with preventing any supplies reaching Gaza. Israel will also likely occupy Gaza in detail and try to route out Hamas. This is not going to be pretty!
I think the battleship you referred to is the New Jersey (BB-62) that was reactivated a second time in the early 80’s. A few years ago when visting some friends near Philadelphia we visited the museum ship.
Even though most of her modernized equipment has been ripped out she is still very impressive, definitely worth visiting if you get a chance, as are the other Iowa Class BBs you can visit.
Those 16″ guns are hard to argue against, even today. A couple of them off the coast made a statement that is probably only matched by a carrier.
Feb 1991 was when NJ was finally taken out of service
It was definitely pre-1995 when we went as part of UNPROFOR.
Just a side note-I worked with a Lebanonese engineer (US Navy, Mare Island Shipyard). He had a story that as a little boy he’d bring milk into town (maybe Beirut) carrying it on his burro, Blackey. Anyway, one night the Battleship was lobbing shells which passed over their farm. One of the rounds landed short and hit the paddock where Blackey was kept. No remains were found. I asked him if he submitted a claim and he just laughed and said who too? I think those shells are between 1500 and 2000 lb.
It’s more of a message to the neighbouring peer actors. Namely Iran.
Agree if the USN are going to hit anyone it will be Iran .
A Gulf war will triple fuel prices, maybe higher with massive shortages .
I amazed you arent ruling this out
Let’s hope it doesn’t go there because that’s the last thing we need ,but if the USA is pushed ?
Its also a deterrence against Hezbollah in Lebanon. and yes Iran… I’d love to see all Iranian assets in Syria wiped out. They’re the one pulling the strings of all these groups around the middle east. Syria, hamas, hezbollah, yemen… and lets not forget who else benefits from the world’s focus shifting back to the middle east- Russia. and who is Russia best buddies with? Iran.
a contingent of Hamas leaders were in Russia last week (unless that was fake news, i could be wrong)- were they promised anything by Russia for launching this attack? now we have the US sending much needed A/A missiles to Israel instead of Ukraine and worried more than ever about widespread conflict with Iran across the middle east. how convenient… what worries me is how far would Iran push things in the middle east if Russia promises to give them a bomb or the materials to make their own in a quick manner? if the US has to end up in a full blown conflict with Iran then Ukraine is essentially finished… am i being overly paranoid in thinking Russia has their hand in this?
This was about what US intervention might do with a carrier.
Isarel has refused the Two state solution they agreed too and continued to build and take land outside its borders for its own citizens.
That doesnt justify the atrocity’s but the core of the problem is because Israel was created the way it was because of what was Europes problem
The US carrier fleet really are the sharp spear tip of US foreign policy. Something kicks off and the first question from a US president is “where is the nearest carrier?”
Not surprising a single carrier battle group has more firepower then most sovereign nations.
So military intervention has been a good thing, bomb the locals that sort of thing like its still 1920s
Israel didn’t ask for people coming across the Borader shooting and killing people and kidnapping old age pensions and kids ,how would you feel if it was a member of your family.I have no doubt you would want to hit back and yes sadly Locals get court up in it and have nothing to do with it .What type of intervention do you think would work with people fireing AK47s etc.Do you think they just want to talk. 🙄
there is nothing wrong with deterrence. if a carrier group can keep hezbollah from doing anything that saves a lot of lives for everyone,
I’ve never really quite ‘got the point’ with western support of the Israelis: some of the historical IDF set pieces have been brilliant feats – Sharon’s crossing of the Suez Canal and the defence of the Golan Heights during Yom Kippur, the destruction of the Egyptian air force and capture of Jerusalem in 1967, the legendary Raid on Entebbe…. just for starters. But then there’s the deficits – the terrorist campaign against the British forces in Palestine in the late 1940s, the pre-Yom Kippur over-confidence that lead to a critical situation, the endless counter-insurgency campaigns since 1982 that guarantee neither peace or security… and now this latest episode, which is as much caused by the long term Israeli policy of over-immigration and over-populating their country as the over-population and political radicalisation of the Arabic areas.
The retaliatory shelling and bombing of Gaza should be condemned by Western leaders: we can hardly criticise the Russian forces for their destruction of civilian targets in Ukraine otherwise. The IDF believes in using firepower and equipment in order to reduce casualties, but an unrestrained use of them leads to massive collateral death and destruction, and a pointless victory: “They create a wasteland and call it peace.”
I think the Israeli mentality towards war is grounded in their religion, as much as the moral and legal principles of western liberal democracies are grounded in Christianity.
Our religion is the only one out of the three that believe in the same God which doesn’t preach revenge. Christianity also has the principle of forgiveness of sins and redemption. Hence we believe in post-war reconciliation and reconstruction of the defeated nation, such as post-WWII in Europe and Japan, and latterly things such as the Northern Ireland peace process of the 1990s.
The IDF couldn’t have managed the latter military operation, any more than you’d see them on a UN peacekeeping gig. As far as I’m concerned, Gaza is their mess, they have well enough kit to operate with, and we in the West will receive no gratitude for helping them sort it out, or rather to continue to escalate the violence and killing.
Looks like the US is sending a second Carrier strike group, the USS Eisenhower
The Eisenhower Strike group is enroute to the Med
America sending a big message to Arab states in the eastern Mediterranean.
Is it needed… most likely, if only to keep Israel on a leash, as if I were an Israeli, I would be baying for blood blood and more blood.
The newly formed Littoral Response Group (South) is being deployed to the Eastern Med. Conveniently its already at Gibraltar, en-route to the Indian Ocean. It consists of RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay, a company from 40 Commando, and three Merlin HC4’s.
We have two super carries with 8 planes between them, and not enough escorts for two carrier groups.