Pentagon deploys nuclear submarine to Middle East as world militaries converge
In an unusual announcement Sunday, US Central Command revealed the Navy has deployed an Ohio-class nuclear submarine to Middle East waters as the conflict in Israel continues.
The US reportedly has 18 nuclear-powered Ohio-class subs, 14 of which carry Trident ballistic missiles (SSBNs) tipped with nuclear warheads and four of which carry Tomahawk cruise missiles (SSGNs). The Pentagon did not disclose which type has been dispatched, but it is still uncommon for the US military to announce the movements of ballistic and guided missile submarines.
A photo accompanying the Pentagon’s announcement appears to show the vessel in the Suez Canal near Cairo, reports say.
The announcement comes soon after the Pentagon announced the deployment of 300 more troops to the Middle East “intended to support regional deterrence efforts and further bolster US force protection capabilities.”
Last month US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin deployed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and its strike group to the Persian Gulf. The naval force was the second in two weeks to be dispatched by the US after the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group was sent to the eastern Mediterranean.
Secretary Austin ordered the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford — the world’s largest warship — to "deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas' attack on Israel." The order came two days after the October 7th attack in which Islamic forces from Gaza invaded Israel and massacred over 1,400 Israelis while managing to bring hundreds of hostages back to the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip.
In addition to the carriers — each of which can carry up to 5,000 troops, not including their strike groups — Austin has placed another 2,000 troops on prepare-to-deploy status and is sending air defense systems to the region. The defense secretary said the decision was the result of "detailed discussions with President Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East.”
At the same time China’s Defense Ministry confirmed that six ships from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 44th naval escort task force spent several days in the Gulf of Oman last month. The warships — which include two advanced 052D guided-missile destroyers — have reportedly been in the region since May and recently participated in joint exercises with the Omani navy in what the China government is calling “routine operations.”
The ships left the Omani capital of Muscat on October 19th and sailed to an undisclosed destination.
Last week Acting Australia Prime Minister Richard Marles announced that two Royal Australian Air Force aircraft are being sent to assist an existing aircraft sent to the region last month. The prime minister also said the aircraft will be accompanied by “a pretty significant contingent of personnel.”
Marles would not divulge details about the specific destination of the new deployments “for operational reasons” but said they will “support Australian populations in the Middle East.”
These deployments appear to vindicate regional observers who predicted that the fighting in Israel is expected to expand into a regional war to provide a pretext for globalist intervention.
