The U.S. has reportedly sent “a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and is speeding up the arrival of an additional aircraft carrier as the region braces for a possible Iranian response to the killing of Hamas’s political leader in Tehran.” That is in addition to an additional $3.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel.
The Wall Street Journal reports that “U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant by phone Sunday that the deployments strengthen the U.S. military posture in the Middle East in light of recent tensions and reflect a ‘commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel.'”
This comes as the White House is asking Israel to investigate rape of Palestinian prisoners. None of that holds up any support for Israel clearly. If anything, it’s a speed bump for the unimpeded flow of aid.
Israel continues to warn that Iran will retaliate after Israel attacked a Hamas leader inside of Iran. They also say that they may launch a preemptive strike if Iran does not strike first. Does that make sense? Israel is waiting for a retaliation but if it does not come, they’ll strike first?
