- US military presence in the Middle East continues to increase
The U.S. military is further bolstering its presence in the Middle East in anticipation of an expected Iranian counterattack on Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of the nuclear-powered submarine "USS Georgia," and the aircraft carrier "USS Abraham Lincoln" and its escort ships are set to expedite their transit to the region, the Pentagon announced.
The aircraft carrier, equipped with modern F-35 fighter jets, will join the already present aircraft carrier group "USS Theodore Roosevelt," the Pentagon said. In a conversation with his Israeli counterpart, Minister of Defense Joav Galant, Austin reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to "take every possible step to defend Israel" amid "escalating regional tensions," the Pentagon stated further.
The U.S. military's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, each over 300 meters long, are armed with dozens of combat aircraft, accompanied by destroyers capable of missile defense, and other warships. According to a U.S. military website, the approximately 110-meter-long submarine "USS Georgia" can be armed with up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Israel's Minister of Defense threatens Iran
Meanwhile, Galant warned Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia against a harsh counterstrike. "Whoever harms us in a way that has not been seen in the past will likely be struck in a way that has not been seen in the past," Galant said.
"I hope they will think this through and not push us to a point where we have to inflict significant damage and increase the likelihood of a wider conflict," the Israeli Minister of Defense added. "We don't want this, but we must be prepared."
After the killing of a Hezbollah military commander in Lebanon and a leader of the Hamas, which is affiliated with the organization, in Tehran, Iran and Hezbollah announced massive retaliation. The Hamas political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an explosion at an Iranian government guesthouse in late July. Iran blamed Israel, which has not commented on the matter. Israel claimed responsibility for the targeted killing of the Hezbollah military commander.
Germany, Britain, and France expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the region. In a statement, the heads of state and government Olaf Scholz, Keir Starmer, and Emmanuel Macron particularly called on Iran and its affiliates to refrain from attacks that would further escalate tensions and endanger the chance for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. "No country and no nation has anything to gain from further escalation in the Middle East."
Renewed rocket attacks from Lebanon
While Iran and its affiliates have yet to carry out their major counterattack against Israel, attacks continue between Israel's army and the Hezbollah militia. The Israeli military reported that around 30 projectiles were fired from Lebanon towards the town of Kabri near the coastal city of Nahariya on Monday night. There were no casualties. Some of the projectiles landed in open areas. According to local media reports, Hezbollah said the attack with Katyusha rockets targeted a military outpost.
On Thursday, there will be the first negotiating round in a long time to achieve a ceasefire in the ten-month-long Gaza conflict and the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
Both Israeli delegates and Hamas representatives are invited to the indirect talks, which will take place in Cairo or Doha. It is still unclear whether a Hamas team will participate. In a statement, the group had previously called on mediators to work out a plan for implementing the existing proposal for an agreement on a ceasefire, "instead of going to further negotiating rounds" or submitting further drafts.
The USA, Egypt, and Qatar are mediating the indirect talks, which have been dragging on for months. Since May, they have been circling around a multi-stage plan by US President Joe Biden, which ultimately aims for a permanent ceasefire. Additionally, hostages held by Hamas are to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said in a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a government spokesperson in Berlin, that the time has come to finalize the agreement on the release of hostages and a ceasefire in order to achieve regional de-escalation.
Mother receives sign of life from her daughter
Hamas is believed to still hold 115 hostages in the Gaza Strip, many of whom are said to be dead. The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" reported that the family of a young soldier had received a sign of life from their daughter. "She and her friends, all four, are alive," the mother of the abducted woman was quoted as saying. However, the family does not know the condition of the soldier and where she is being held.
There are recordings of the Hamas abduction of the woman and other soldiers, showing them frightened, injured, and partly covered in blood.
More deaths in Gaza Strip attacks
After the air strike on a school building used as a refugee shelter, which caused international outrage and criticism, Israel's army continues its attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip, according to its own statements. Five people were killed in the entire coastal strip, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Israel's military said it had killed terrorists in the city of Rafah in the south of the area. Alone on Saturday, 30 Hamas targets were attacked. The statements could not be independently verified at first.
Israel's army called on residents of a quarter in the north of the city of Khan Yunis to leave the area before a new military operation. Israel accuses the Islamic terror organization of misusing the humanitarian zone in the area for rocket attacks on Israeli locations. Khan Yunis is located in the south of the Gaza Strip.
In the Israeli air strike on the school building, dozens of people were killed on Saturday, according to Palestinian reports. Israel's military expressed doubts about the numbers and spoke of a Hamas command center. The Federal Foreign Office issued a warning to Israel: "The reports from Gaza are appalling. That civilians seeking shelter are being killed is unacceptable. The repeated attacks by the Israeli army on schools must stop and be quickly clarified," the department of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) wrote on Sunday on the X platform.
The plight of women, men, and many children seeking refuge who have been fleeing the fighting in Gaza for months is immeasurable. They should not be further caught in the crossfire, and Hamas should not exploit them as human shields.
In an attack in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, an Israeli was killed, according to Israeli reports. The military wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
The USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered submarine equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, is also being deployed to the Middle East as part of the U.S. military's response to the expected Iranian counterattack.
Given its stealth capabilities and long-range missile capacity, the USS Georgia could provide a crucial strategic advantage in the region, potentially allowing for precision strikes without the need for an aircraft carrier.
