The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea as Israel continued its offensive against Hamas, US defense officials said Sunday.
Accompanying the aircraft carrier will be a strike group of warships as well as Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons, according to The Pentagon.
“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,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
Maneuvering the warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea will better position the US to reinforce Israel and potentially defend Americans.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged Sunday that Americans may be among those killed, injured, and taken hostage.
Some politicians — such as Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) — have floated the possibility of dispatching special forces to recover any potential American hostages.
Austin pledged to keep up US assistance to Israel as it grapples with violence erupting within its borders.
“In addition, the United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions,” Austin continued. “The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days.”
Waships in the strike group accompanying the USS Gerald R. Ford include: 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), as well as the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), per the Pentagon.
As of Sunday afternoon, the death toll stood at least 700 dead and 2,100 missing on the Israeli side, according to health officials.
On the Palestinian side, over 313 Palestinians are reported dead and 1,990 reported missing, including 20 killed and 121 injured children, per the Health Ministry.
Israel declared war on Hamas — its first declared war since 1973 —and vowed to emerge victorious.
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