WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has ordered the second aircraft carrier currently en route to the Middle East — the USS Abraham Lincoln — to “accelerate” its transit from the Pacific amid concerns of a looming retaliatory attack by Iran and its proxies against Israel.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a phone call on Sunday that he had ordered the Lincoln to hasten its transit while also ordering a guided-missile submarine — the USS Georgia — to the region.
The Georgia is a nuclear-powered sub capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, while the Lincoln is carrying a squadron of F-35C stealth fighter aircraft capable of collecting intelligence and launching long-range strikes. Both vessels will join roughly a dozen other US warships currently in broader Mediterranean and Gulf waters, in addition to those of US allies.
Austin authorized the deployment of the Lincoln, along with additional Navy destroyers capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and super-advanced stealth F-22 fighter jets on Aug. 2.