Washington sending another aircraft carrier to the Middle East due to Israel-Hamas war

(Patria) - The United States is strengthening its firepower in the Middle East to prevent the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and to deter Iran from intervening, Reuters reported.

The latest US aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, and the world's largest, is already in the Eastern Mediterranean and is expected to be joined by another US aircraft carrier within the next ten days.

Although the White House says it has "no plans or intentions" for their use, it means that US military assets would be in place to provide air support to protect US national security interests if necessary. The US also has a number of bases in the Middle East with troops, fighter jets, and warships.

"Every effort is being made to prevent this from becoming a regional conflict. If it does, it will largely draw on US resources," said a US official, who wished to remain anonymous.

"I don't want to speculate on what kind of assistance might be offered if a wider conflict occurs, those decisions have not yet been made," he said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Cairo on Sunday after Middle East shuttle diplomacy, sent a blunt message and a veiled warning to US adversary Iran: "When it comes to Israel's security, we have Israel's back."

He said the deployment of two aircraft carrier strike groups "will not provoke anyone, but rather send a very clear message of deterrence that no one should do anything that would in any way expand this conflict, or that would encourage aggression against Israel from any other direction."