The dispatch of the second American aircraft carrier strike group, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower, to the Mediterranean Sea has begun, the US Navy reported on October 14.
“The aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower departed on October 14 for a scheduled deployment. The strike group is planned to deploy to US European Command, where it will work with allies and partners to support maritime operations, including naval diplomacy and national efforts to build comprehensive maritime power for the United States and its allies,” the statement said. material.
The aircraft carrier, leaving Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, will join the aircraft carrier Gerald R, which has already arrived in the region.
The day before, the 13News Now TV channel, citing the US Navy, reported that the dispatch of the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower was delayed. It was supposed to take place that day.
In addition, on October 13, CNN, citing sources, reported that the United States of America began preparing the 26th Marine Expeditionary Force for possible deployment to an area close to Israel to strengthen the position of American troops there. It is noted that the unit consists of more than 2 thousand marines and is a rapid reaction force that is capable of supporting large-scale evacuation and providing humanitarian assistance.
The Pentagon also stated that they intend to transfer ammunition and air defense equipment to Israel. According to a senior ministry official, Washington intends to permanently transfer these weapons to the Israeli side.
The United States announced the dispatch of two aircraft carrier groups to the Mediterranean Sea, one of which is led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford. On October 10, it became known that he had arrived in the eastern part of the region to conduct exercises against the background of the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
On the morning of October 7, the Palestinian Hamas movement subjected Israeli territory to massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and also invaded the border areas in the south of the country. That same day, Israel began retaliating against targets in the Gaza Strip and later announced the launch of Operation Iron Swords.
In the following days, the IDF continued to carry out attacks on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon. Thus, on October 12, it was reported that Israeli troops attacked more than 3.6 thousand targets in the Gaza Strip, and about 6 thousand bombs were dropped on targets. On the night of October 13, the IDF attacked 750 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
According to the latest data, the number of Israeli casualties after the Hamas attack has increased to 1.3 thousand people, and another 3.3 thousand were injured. The death toll of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip increased to 1.9 thousand, and more than 7.6 thousand people were injured.
The Palestinians are trying to ensure that future borders between the two countries follow lines that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, with possible territory swaps. Palestine wants to create its own state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and make East Jerusalem its capital. Israel refuses to return to the 1967 borders and divide Jerusalem.
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