U.S. Increases Presence In The Middle East Amid Tensions With Iran

Officials have confirmed Saturday that the U.S. Navy has deployed a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to the Middle East.

The USS Florida “is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability,” according to a statement by Commander Timothy Hawkins, Reuters cited.

The decision comes after a series of attacks in recent months by Iranian-backed militants on U.S. forces.

Below is a statement from US Central Command on a rocket attack targeting coalition forces that struck a civilian house, causing significant damage to the house and minor injuries to two women and two children. pic.twitter.com/XCgp6jZdWz

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 24, 2023

From The Daily Caller:

In March, one American contractor was killed and five U.S. servicemembers were injured in a drone strike on a U.S. base in Syria after U.S. Central Command conducted airstrikes against facilities used by an Iranian paramilitary group. U.S. officials confirmed the strike was carried out by a suicide drone launched by Iranian-backed militants in the country, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Iran also stands accused of targeting oil tankers and commercial ships, according to allegations by the U.S., U.K. and Israel, AP News noted.

Iran-aligned forces have carried out approximately 80 attacks against U.S. forces in the region since the start of 2021, prompting four retaliatory airstrikes from the Biden administration, the WSJ reported.