Official announcements from the US Department of Defense or major news outlets like CNN, BBC, or Reuters

US Deploys 12 Warships to Middle East After Assassinations, Largest Since 2003

Aug 1, 2024, 07:56 AM

The United States Department of Defense has announced the deployment of 12 warships to the Middle East following the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah official Fuad Shukr. This deployment includes the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, amphibious combat teams, and more than 4,000 Marines and sailors. The move comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Lebanon and potential retaliation from Iran. According to the Washington Post, this is the largest deployment of US warships since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.