Israel’s War Spreading As US Moves Ships In Mediterranean
By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s declared war against its enemies appeared to escalate Tuesday further after more than 900 people, including 11 Americans, were confirmed killed by Palestinian terror group Hamas.
In response, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced he had ordered American military ships, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier and additional aircraft, to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean.
“Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President [Joe] Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts,” Austin said in a news release.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which is the biggest warship in the world, in addition to the Ticonderoga-class, guided missile cruiser USS Normandy and four Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers — USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt.
The USS Gerald R. Ford was in the western Mediterranean when it received deployment orders. Depending on its precise location, it could have to travel over a thousand miles (1,600 kilometers), experts said.
Austin also announced steps to augment U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. USAF aircraft are going into bases in the Middle East where they will be available for operations against Iran, a prominent backer of Hamas and Hezbollah, operating from Lebanon,
The munitions the U.S. will be sending over are being airlifted, officials said. As the events unfolded, U.S. President Joe Biden clarified that” there is no justification whatsoever for terrorism, and all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities.”
‘DESTROYING ENEMIES’
Biden has been in close contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who pledged to destroy Israel’s enemies, including Hamas, in a way that will be remembered for generations.
The U.S. pledged support for Israel’s army after 300,000 reservists were mobilized in what is Israel’s most significant security challenge in decades. Massive Israeli air strikes continued overnight in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave home to 2.3 million people.
Authorities said hundreds of people had been killed, but Israel accused militants of deliberately hiding weapons in schools and mosques.
Israelis have been told to “prepare for a three-day stay in bomb shelters/secure rooms” as fighting continues.
Residents are urged to stock up on food, water, flashlights, and other battery-powered devices in the event of widespread power outages.
Said to be the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973 carried out by Egypt and Syria, the conflict spread beyond Israel’s borders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed President Biden that Israel has “no choice” but to launch a ground invasion against Hamas in Gaza.
In response to the attacks, Israel launched airstrikes against the Gaza Strip and announced it would cut off food and fuel supplies as it stepped up efforts to eliminate jihadists along the southern border.
LEBANON HIT
Israel also attacked the infrastructure of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, which expressed support for Hamas, footage obtained by Worthy News showed.
However, Hamas warned Israel that any bombing of Gaza without prior warning would result in the execution of Israeli hostages.
In an audio clip, Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said the threat to execute hostages comes in response to Israeli airstrikes.
“We have decided to put an end to this, and as of now, we declare that any targeting of our people in their homes without prior warning will be regrettably faced with the execution of one the hostages of civilians we are holding,” Obeida said.
Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, issued a Monday video warning Hamas to refrain from further harm against any of the estimated 150 Israeli hostages.
Among those held are Israeli soldiers and civilians ranging from elderly Holocaust or Shoah survivors to families with children.
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