**US Deploys USS Wasp Assault Ship and Marines to Eastern Mediterranean Sea**
In a strategic move to address rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the United States has deployed the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp and its contingent of Marines to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. This deployment aims to serve as a deterrent and provide the U.S. military with additional options amid escalating conflicts along the Israel-Lebanon border, according to three U.S. officials.
The officials emphasized that the deployment of the USS Wasp is not an indication of plans to evacuate American citizens from Lebanon. Instead, it is a precautionary measure similar to the earlier deployments of the USS Bataan and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, which were sent to the region following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.
Currently on a scheduled deployment to Europe, the USS Wasp’s transit towards the eastern Mediterranean is intended to prevent the conflict between Hamas and Israel from expanding into a broader regional war. “This move is being done for deterrence purposes and to promote regional stability,” one official stated.
The USS Wasp will be joined by the USS Oak Hill, which is already operating in the Mediterranean, and the USS New York, which will soon arrive to complete the Wasp’s Amphibious Ready Group. This group, along with the 2,200 Marines aboard, is trained for a variety of missions, including the evacuation of large numbers of American citizens from conflict zones.
Equipped with AV-8 Harrier jets and helicopters, the USS Wasp is not currently carrying MV-22 Osprey aircraft, which are typically used for long-distance personnel transport. Another U.S. official highlighted that the Wasp’s movement is intended to provide American leaders with options, and no decision has been made to assist American citizens in leaving Lebanon.
Recent weeks have seen an increase in clashes between Israeli and Hezbollah forces along the Israel-Lebanon border, raising concerns that Israel could soon be engaged in a second war. U.S. diplomatic efforts to resolve the tensions have so far been unsuccessful.
“We will not accept Hezbollah troops and military formations on the border with Israel,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters. “We will not accept threats to our northern communities. We are willing to do everything in our power to protect our people. We don’t want to get into a war because it’s not good for Israel.”
The USS Wasp carries most of the 2,200 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which left the U.S. in May for its deployment to the Sixth Fleet’s area of operations in Europe. The remaining Marines from the 24th MEU are distributed aboard the USS Oak Hill and the USS New York.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Navy announced that the USS Wasp had transited through the Strait of Gibraltar to enter the Mediterranean Sea after participating in a large exercise in the Baltic Sea.
The deployment of the USS Wasp and its accompanying ships is part of a broader U.S. strategy to maintain a strong military presence in the region. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean immediately following Hamas’ attack on Israel, will soon redeploy to its home port as scheduled to prepare for future deployments.
The Department of Defense continues to evaluate its global force posture and will retain extensive capabilities in the Mediterranean and across the Middle East. This includes the current deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East, additional cruisers and destroyers in the Mediterranean and Middle East, and the recent arrival of the USS Bataan and the USS Carter Hall in the eastern Mediterranean.
The USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall join the USS Mesa Verde, and with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), these ships have re-aggregated as the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the eastern Mediterranean. The ARG/MEU consists of three ships and approximately 2,000 Marines, providing sea-based expeditionary forces capable of supporting a wide range of missions.
The U.S. is also collaborating with allies and partners to bolster maritime security in the region. The Department of Defense will continue to leverage its collective force posture to deter any state or non-state actor from escalating the crisis beyond Gaza. The U.S. extends its appreciation to the service members abroad and their families for their steadfast commitment to global security.
The deployment of the USS Wasp and its accompanying forces underscores the U.S. commitment to maintaining stability in the region and providing a robust deterrent against potential threats. As tensions continue to rise, the presence of these military assets will play a crucial role in preventing the conflict from spreading and ensuring the safety of American interests and allies in the region.
Source: U.S. Navy, Department of Defense
