A United States Navy flotilla entered the Mediterranean Sea this week as Washington continues in its efforts to keep the current hostilities in the region from escalating into a larger conflict.
The assets include the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and the landing ships USS New York and USS Oak Hill.
The task force is reportedly patrolling with a contingent of 2,200 Marines, close air support jets, attack and utility helicopters, and multiple small landing craft.
Pentagon officials maintain that the deployment is similar to the deterrent mission that has been undertaken by other combat vessels in the vicinity since the October 7 invasion of southern Israel by the Hamas terrorist organization.
Observers have noted that the operation brings the capability of civilian evacuation to the war zone if the U.S. is required to remove their citizens from Lebanon during a possible IDF incursion against Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants.
The positioning comes as Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, told reporters on Tuesday that the Jewish state "will not accept Hezbollah troops and military formations on the border with Israel" while his government decides how to address Hezbollah’s eight-month-long offensive against the northern part of his country.
The Navy did not disclose how long the warships would remain in the area.
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