Tue. Feb 18th, 2025

President Joe Biden has ordered the US ships and warplanes to move closer to Israel as a show of support and has sent additional military aid following the attacks by Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group. The Pentagon has informed that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships are being deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, along with the reinforcement of fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The United States, being a major supplier of arms to Israel, has promptly reaffirmed its backing for the country after the surprise attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday. They have vowed “rock solid” support for Israel and have warned other parties to stay out of the conflict.

President Biden also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and assured him that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is on its way and more will follow in the coming days. The leaders have also discussed the ongoing efforts to ensure that no enemies of Israel take advantage of the current situation. President Biden has pledged his full support to the government and people of Israel in the face of the unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has witnessed the worst escalation in decades, resulting in more than 600 casualties on the Israeli side and at least 370 deaths in Israeli air strikes reported by Gaza officials. Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned the nation of a long war ahead, with tens of thousands of Israeli forces already deployed for battle against Hamas and preparations underway for a possible ground offensive in Gaza.

Given the rising tensions, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced the deployment of forces to bolster regional deterrence efforts after discussions with President Biden. The deployment includes the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier, a guided missile cruiser, and four guided missile destroyers. The United States government will also rapidly provide additional equipment and resources to the Israel Defense Forces, including munitions. This move demonstrates the unwavering support of the United States for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that President Biden has instructed his administration to provide Israel with everything it needs to deal with the attacks from Hamas. Blinken has also mentioned that there are reports of Americans being taken hostage, and they are working to verify these reports. He has described the attacks by Hamas as a massive terrorist attack, which is targeting Israeli civilians in their towns and homes, and has called for the world to be revolted by what it has witnessed.

(Note: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff, except for the headline.)

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