Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > U.S. Bolsters Presence With F-22s and ‘Mini Aircraft Carrier’ Against ‘Axis of Evil’

U.S. Bolsters Presence With F-22s and ‘Mini Aircraft Carrier’ Against ‘Axis of Evil’

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – In response to threats from Iran and Hezbollah following the targeted killings of senior Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in Beirut and Tehran, the Pentagon has bolstered its forces by deploying a squadron of F-22 Raptor fighter jets and a smaller-scale aircraft carrier to the Middle East. Analysts are anticipating a potential attack on Tish B’Av, which begins Monday night.

A squadron of advanced F-22 Raptor fighter jets has arrived at an undisclosed location in the region, having flown thousands of miles from their base in Alaska. The F-22 is a fifth-generation fighter jet, widely regarded as one of the most advanced warplanes in the world.

This deployment is in addition to four other groups of American fighter jets that have moved significantly closer to the area.

Additionally, Washington has sent the assault ship USS Wasp, often referred to as a “mini-aircraft carrier,” to Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean. The vessel is reportedly equipped with combat helicopters and an unspecified-size Marine Force company.

On Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, assuring him that “the U.S. will defend Israel if attacked.” However, the U.S. remains hopeful that this show of force, combined with strong diplomatic efforts, will encourage Tehran to limit its retaliation and avoid escalating the conflict further in the Middle East.

The State Department announced Friday that the U.S. is releasing $3.5 billion in military aid to Israel as part of the $14.1 billion in supplemental funding approved by Congress in April.

According to Axios, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Sunday, informing him that Iranian military preparations indicate Tehran may be gearing up for a large-scale attack.

Over the past week, many analysts have pointed to Tisha B’Av, which begins the night of August 12, as a potential date for conflict. Iran and its proxy terrorist organizations may choose this date for psychological warfare, given its historical significance as a time of misfortune for the Jewish people.

Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples on the same calendar day, centuries apart.

Additionally, on this day, Jews were historically expelled from Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain in separate events, hundreds of years apart. In more recent history, World War 1 commenced on Tisha B’Av, and the call for the Holocaust’s “Final Solution,” which led to the murder of 6 million Jews, was also declared on this day.

Last weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is in a “multi-arena war against Iran’s axis of evil,” targeting Iran and its terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East.