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The Navy has increased its military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean by deploying an additional Naval ship and now the presence of a three-star general in a show of support for Israel.

The USS Mount Whitney, the 6th Fleet’s flagship, has been dispatched from its base in Gaeta, Italy, to aid “U.S. operations” in the Eastern Mediterranean, per an official Navy statement. According to the Navy, Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, commander of the 6th Fleet, and his staff are onboard.

The Mount Whitney, hosting over 300 crew members, boasts advanced data transmission capabilities, allowing it to “receive, process and transmit large amounts of secure data from any point on Earth.”

This move follows recent announcements that the Navy would increase its regional forces, sending an additional aircraft carrier strike group and moving ships containing a Marine Corps expeditionary unit.
The USS Gerald R. Ford strike group, commanded by Rear Admiral Erik Eslich, is currently operating off the Israeli coast. The upcoming arrival of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group, led by Rear Admiral Marc Miguez, will further bolster US presence in the region.