In response to the threat of a possible attack on US military forces by Iran, the US military decided to send additional firepower to the Middle East. This includes an aircraft carrier with a full carrier air wing, one cruiser, four destroyers, a group of heavy bombers, fighters, an expeditionary warship, and a surface-to-air missile battery.
On Monday, we told you that in response to threats from Iran, the US military had authorized the
USS Abraham Lincoln to be deployed to the Middle East. Yesterday, the Lincoln
passed through Egypt's Suez Canal. Iran said they could take out the Lincoln with a single missile, and guess what? The United States is talking them seriously and sending quite an impressive array of ships, planes and firepower. The full list is in the article here below.
NBC News reports that "In a highly unusual move, national security adviser John Bolton
convened a meeting at CIA headquarters last week with the Trump administration's top intelligence, diplomatic and military advisers
to discuss Iran, according to six current U.S. officials. The meeting came amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as the Trump administration piles pressure on Tehran's economy through crippling sanctions. Days after it took place, Bolton, citing indications of an increased threat from Iran, announced the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber squadron to the Persian Gulf. He warned Tehran that "any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force."
It is very unlikely that the US military would send this much raw firepower simply as a 'show of force'. The last time they sent this much at one time to the Middle East, precision guided missiles
rained down on Syria in response to chemical attacks on their own people. Trump is planning something for the Iranians, something big indeed.
The US is sending a ton of firepower to take on Iran — here's everything headed its way
FROM BUSINESS INSIDER: The US military is sending a carrier strike group, a bomber task force, fighter jets, an amphibious landing ship, and a surface-to-air missile battery to the Middle East as a show of force to Iran. There is a ton of firepower heading that way.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which consists of the carrier and its powerful carrier air wing, as well as one cruiser and four destroyers, began moving into the region with an unspecified number of B-52 Stratofortress heavy long-range bombers earlier this week.
US Air Forces Central Command
announced Thursday that F-15C Eagle fighter jets were repositioned within the theater to "defend US forces and interests in the region." On Friday, the Pentagon announced that the USS Arlington, an amphibious landing ship, and a Patriot surface-to-air missile battery are on their way.
These assets, according to US Central Command, are being currently deployed in response to "clear indications that Iranian and Iranian proxy forces were making preparations to possibly attack US forces in the region."
Aircraft carrier: USS Abraham Lincoln
Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, previously described aircraft carriers as a "tremendous expression of US national power." A carrier strike group is an even stronger message. "CSGs are visible and powerful symbols of US commitment and resolve," US European Command said in a statement on Tuesday.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a mobile sea-based airfield, is the lead ship for the carrier strike group that bears its name and is outfitted with a highly capable carrier air wing.
Carrier air wing: fighters, electronic-attack aircraft, early-warning aircraft, and rotary aircraft
Carrier Air Wing Seven consists of F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler electronic-attack aircraft, E-2 Hawkeye early-warning aircraft, and a number of rotary aircraft from multiple squadrons capable of carrying out a variety of operational tasks.
Cruiser: USS Leyte Gulf
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers are multi-role warships that run heavily armed with 122 vertical-launch-system (VLS) cells capable of carrying everything from Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles to surface-to-air missiles and anti-submarine-warfare rockets.
4 destroyers: USS Bainbridge, USS Gonzalez, USS Mason, and USS Nitze
Like the larger cruisers, destroyers are also multi-mission vessels. Armed with 90 to 96 VLS cells, these ships have air-and-missile defense capabilities, as well as land-attack abilities.
Early in the Trump presidency, two US Navy destroyers devastated Shayrat Airbase with 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles to punish the Syrian regime in the aftermath of a chemical-weapons attack.
Bombers: B-52s
The B-52 is a subsonic high-altitude bomber capable of carrying nuclear and conventional payloads. These hard-hitting aircraft can carry up to 70,000 pounds of varied ordnance and can be deployed to
carry out various missions, including strategic attack, close air support, air interdiction, and offensive counter-air and maritime operations.
Fighters: F-15C Eagles
The F-15s in the region were reportedly seen carrying live missiles, including the six AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and two AIM-9X Sidewinder's for air-to-air combat, The Drive
reports.
The Pentagon has not specifically announced the movement of these fighters as a response to Iran, but the timing of the repositioning is noteworthy.
Amphibious Landing Ship: USS Arlington
A San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock is able to move Marines, amphibious assault vehicles, conventional landing craft, and rotary aircraft to support amphibious assaults, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions, the Pentagon explained in a statement Friday.
Air-and-Missile Defense: Patriot battery
A Patriot battery is, according to the Department of Defense, a long-range, all-weather air defense system with the ability to eliminate certain threatening tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.
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