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The United States is repositioning military assets across the Middle East in response to Israel’s strikes on Iran.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you haven’t been following along on our Instagram, yesterday Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a military campaign targeting the heart of Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The Israeli Air Force carried out hundreds of precision strikes, many of which are still ongoing, hitting key nuclear sites including the Natanz enrichment facility (home to Iran’s most advanced centrifuge development), and damaging ballistic missile systems, air defense networks, and underground bunkers. According to Israeli military officials, over 200 fighter jets participated in the coordinated assault. Israel also took out high-profile Iranian officials, including Gen. Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s top military officer; Ali Shamkhani, former national security chief; Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC Air Force; and six of Iran’s leading nuclear scientists. Israel has vowed that strikes will continue “for as many days as it takes” to eliminate the perceived existential threat from Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Getting into it: First reported by AP, citing US defense officials, the United States is rapidly repositioning military assets throughout the Middle East in response to Israel’s ongoing operation against Iran. While the US has officially denied any direct role in the Israeli strikes, senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, confirmed that Israel had “advised” the US ahead of time and that the White House’s top priority remains the protection of American personnel and assets in the region. The Navy destroyer USS Thomas Hudner has been ordered to the Eastern Mediterranean, and additional naval forces, including the USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike groups, have been moved closer within the region.
While the Trump administration initially maintained a policy of non-involvement in Israel’s offensive, American forces have since assisted in intercepting over 100 Iranian drones launched toward Israel, with reports indicating the drones were downed before reaching Israeli airspace. Iran had reportedly intended to include long-range ballistic missiles in the retaliation, but preliminary Israeli strikes disrupted launch preparations.
Despite this, Iranian leadership has said that both the US and Israel will “pay dearly” for the attack, framing the incident as a declaration of war.
President Donald Trump has reacted to the strikes with a statement posted on his social platform Truth Social. Trump warned Iran to agree to a nuclear deal “before there is nothing left,” adding, “There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter… come to an end.”
