The US has announced the deployment of an aircraft carrier, warships, and jets to the eastern Mediterranean, along with additional equipment and ammunition for Israel. This decision comes in response to the recent Hamas attack on southern Israel, which President Biden characterized as an “unprecedented and appalling assault.” A spokesperson from the U.S. National Security stated that several U.S. citizens were among the casualties.
Israel has reported over 700 casualties and 100 abductions as a result of the conflict. In Gaza, more than 400 people have been killed due to Israeli air strikes, according to Palestinian officials.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin disclosed that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, a missile cruiser, and four missile destroyers are enroute to the region, accompanied by U.S. fighter jets. This is along with US warships. Furthermore, the White House announced plans to provide additional military aid to Israel in the coming days, emphasizing their commitment to preventing Israel’s adversaries from exploiting the situation.
Ebrahim Raisi
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi expressed support for the Hamas attack, holding Israel responsible for endangering the region. Hamas acknowledged receiving assistance from Iran, enabling their attack that involved rockets, drones, militants on paragliders, and a breach of Israeli border fortifications around the Gaza Strip.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that while there is no direct evidence of Iranian involvement in this specific attack, Iran has been supporting Hamas for an extended period. At a UN Security Council meeting, Iran denied any involvement in the attack on Israel.
Blinken also mentioned that there are reports of U.S. citizens being affected by the attack, and efforts are underway to verify these reports. Other countries, including the UK, France, Ukraine, and Thailand, have also reported casualties.
He emphasized the severity of the situation, describing it as a “massive terrorist attack” targeting Israeli civilians in their towns and homes. He expressed concern about the impact on Israel and urged the world to react strongly to what has occurred.
Hundreds of people remain missing, including 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Golberg-Polin, who was at a music festival in the desert when militants stormed the area. His parents received two messages from him, saying, “I love you” and “I’m sorry.”
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, acknowledged that Americans were among the abducted soldiers and civilians in southern Israel but did not have specific details.
