The U.S. Navy is deploying a third warship to support U.S. operations to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The USS Mount Whitney was stationed in Gaeta, Italy will now join the USS Gerald R. Ford already stationed off the coast of Gaza and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin said, “We support Israel’s fundamental right to defend themselves after the atrocities, massacres and mass kidnappings by Hamas.”
The Pentagon has also ordered about 2,000 service members to be on standby and ready to deploy to the region. As of now, it is believed their assignment, if ordered, will be in assistance with logistics, intelligence gathering, and medical support. The assault ship Bataan, along with its embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will also be in the region as well.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the Marines haven’t received any tasking orders yet and the situation will “keep being reevaluated” and “open-ended right now.” Singh also added, “They are there so that if the Defense Secretary and the President make a decision that they are needed, they are in the region, but I’m not going to get into specific operational details at this time.”
By - FZ
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