Iran Prepares for Attack + Other Headlines

Tuesday Digest (08.13.24)

U.S. Officials: Iran is Preparing for a Significant Attack

In an unusual move, the United States has announced that it has dispatched an aircraft carrier equipped with F-35 fighter jets and the guided-missile submarine Georgia to the Middle East in preparation for a potential “significant attack” from Iran against Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Based on the transcripts of a call between him and Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, American Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the departure of the ships after reiterating the United States’ commitment to Israel’s defense:

During the call, Gallant informed Austin that Iranian military preparations indicated Iran was preparing for a significant attack against Israel, a source briefed on the conversation shared.

The US Defense Department revealed that Secretary Austin ordered that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, along with F-35C fighters, accelerate its transit to the Central Command area, bolstering the military presence already provided by the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group. Additionally, the USS Georgia, a guided missile submarine, has been deployed to the region.

This is an unusual disclosure. As The New York Times explains, “The Pentagon rarely announces the movements of its submarine fleet, underscoring the seriousness of the regional crisis.”

Other reports from the Israeli intelligence community indicate that Iran is planning to retaliate against Israel “within days.” It could happen as early as today.