A US nuke sub has arrived in the Middle East, the American military has said in an unusual announcement. The move can be seen as a deterrent to regional adversaries as Iran said the US “will be hit hard” if there is no ceasefire in Gaza.
“Our advice to the Americans is to immediately stop the war in Gaza and implement a ceasefire, otherwise they will be hit hard,” Minister of Defence Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani said, Reuters reported.
On Sunday, US Central Command said in an Ohio-class submarine was entering its area of responsibility as Israel enters its 31st day at war.
The social media post appeared to show the sub in the Suez Canal northeast of Cairo, CNN reported. “On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility”, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
The Central Command area includes the Middle East. The post did not name the submarine, but the US Navy does have four Ohio-class guided missile subs.
Also known as SSGNs, these are former ballistic missile subs converted to fire up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles rather than nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. The Israeli military welcomed the deployment of the American nuke sub, saying it will be “stabilising” for the Middle East.
“It’s always good news to see that the Americans are moving in more assets,” military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said earlier.
“We see this as sort of a deterring, stabilising aspect in the region.” Just weeks ago, a massive “Western Armada” of 19 warships was massing in the eastern Mediterranean.
The monster fleet sent by NATO allies includes the world’s largest aircraft carrier, elite guided-missile cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and support ships.
The American military is also increasing its firepower in the region, looking to prevent Iran and groups backed by the nation from getting involved in the war. The US empire of steel includes a network of bases in the Middle East with 2,000 troops, 2,400 Marines, and 13 warships now on alert.
A few A-10 Warthog and F-15E attack planes arrived in the region. More advanced military aircraft was expected to join. The Pentagon was rushing air defences and munitions to Israel, Reuters reports.
In late October, the United States had also told some 2,000 troops to be ready to deploy within 24 hours if notified – instead of the usual 96 hours – and could include units that provide assistance like medical aid if needed, a US official said.
It comes as Iran’s supreme leader issued a chilling message four days before Hamas brutally murdered 1,400 Israeli men, women, and children. Head of state and commander-in-chief of its armed forces, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said: “The Zionist regime is dying.”
An Iranian state-run account shared the post along with a Palestinian flag icon. In the post on X, formerly Twitter, on October 3, Khamenei added: “The usurper regime is coming to an end.
“Today, the Palestinian youth and the anti-oppression, anti-occupation movement in Palestine is more energetic, more alive, and more prepared than ever during the past 70 or 80 years. “God willing, the movement will achieve its goals.”
