US Moves Carrier From Middle East

JAKARTA - One of the two aircraft carriers deployed to the Middle East to prevent Iran's attacks on Israel from leaving the region, the Pentagon said.

"US troops in the region are among those transferred, but not limited to amphibious ready groups and marine expedition units, several destroyers, fighter aircraft, and the presence of the aircraft carrier strike group (CSG)," Major General Pat Ryder told reporters.

"It should be noted, after a dual aircraft carrier security period by Theodore Roosevelt CSG and Abraham Lincoln CSG in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area, Theodore Roosevelt has departed and began his transit to the Indo-Pacific command operations area."

Last month, the Pentagon announced the US would deploy additional military assets to the Middle East before a possible retaliatory action from Iran against Israel following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Tehran in late July.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Serang Group of Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, equipped with an F-35C fighter, to accelerate transit to the responsibilities of the Central Command, adding to the capabilities provided by the Serang Group of Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

In addition, he also ordered the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) guided-missile submarine to the Central Command area. According toRIDer, the USS Georgia was transferred to CENTCOM's territory.

"We will take any potential threats very seriously. And once again, Iran has indicated that it wants to retaliate against Israel."

"So, we will continue to take the threat very seriously and we will continue to maintain our strong presence in the responsibilities region of the European Command and Command," Ryder said when asked if Iran's threats to Israel had eased compared to last month.

"The US remains focused on working with regional partners to deescalate tensions and prevent wider regional conflicts," he said.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated following the killing of Haniyeh. Hours earlier, Israel killed commander Hezbollah Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Iran has promised "hard punishment" for Israel for the killing of Haniyeh on Iranian soil.

The escalation comes amid an Israeli attack that is still ongoing in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians following a Hamas attack on October 7 last year that killed 1,139 Israelis.