Gaza - Israel Conflict ~ Naval Aspects

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Background
The Gaza-Israel conflict so far – Key events
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-gaz ... ey-events/

America moving supercarrier to support Israel
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/america ... rt-israel/

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The U.S. is considering deploying USS Eisenhower along USS Ford in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, in what would be a massive show of force.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel, the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier to set sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. The largest warship in the world, and the US Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier is not alone: part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) are also the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), as well as the Arleigh-Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Carney (DDG 64), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80).
Continues at - https://theaviationist.com/2023/10/10/s ... ff-israel/

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OSINT defender

The Greek Navy has reportedly been placed into a Heightened State of Readiness with the Greek Hydra-Class Frigate “Psara” being Deployed alongside Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 to the Eastern Mediterranean for Operations alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier and her Strike Group.

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Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to deploy to Europe this week

The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and its strike group are scheduled to deploy to U.S. 6th Fleet Friday, while the Ford Carrier Strike Group also operates in the Mediterranean Sea.

The deployment, the Eisenhower’s first in more than two years, has long been planned. But it comes at a time of rising uncertainty in the region following the large-scale attack on Israel Saturday by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel’s retaliatory strikes.

“The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group will depart from Norfolk, Va., in the coming week in line with its standard deployment schedule,” said Navy spokesperson Lt. Caroline Leya in an email to Navy Times.

The carrier strike group comprises more than 5,000 sailors and includes Carrier Air Wing 3, the destroyers Gravely and Mason, and the cruiser Philippine Sea.

Continues at - https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-nav ... this-week/

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'New’ Littoral Strike Ship RFA Argus arriving in Gibraltar this morning.
RFA Lyme Bay some way behind.
RN will not comment on whether the Littoral Response Group has been earmarked for possible operations in the Eastern Med.

Royal Navy aircraft carrier will not be deployed to the Mediterranean but other options are open
There has been speculation that the UK Carrier Strike Group, currently on operations in the Arctic Circle, could be sent to the Eastern Mediterranean in response to events unfolding in Israel. For now, HMS Queen Elizabeth will stay in European waters but there are other assets that may be deployed to the region.

There are several good reasons the UKCSG will continue with its planned programme of training and defence diplomacy, although the MoD says it is still monitoring the situation and will not rule anything out entirely. To begin with, the UKCSG is around 4,000 miles away from the scene and there are better-placed assets already in play.

The USS Gerald R. Ford Strike Group has been in the Eastern Mediterranean until recently as was heading westward and due to visit Marseilles on 7th October. Instead, she rapidly reversed course and has already arrived back in the Levant. The Pentagon has just announced the USS Dwight D Eisenhower carrier strike group is on her way to the Mediterranean as part of a long-planned deployment and will also be available in the area if needed. The US is unlikely to become directly involved in military action in Israel but is providing a strong deterrent to other actors in the region that may seek to take advantage of the situation.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy- ... -are-open/

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Amid Hezbollah concerns, watch for any movement of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

A false alert suggested that the Lebanese organization Hezbollah had launched a wave of drones into Israel on Wednesday. At the same time, another false report suggested the U.S. Embassy in Beirut was being evacuated.

These incidents illustrate the concern that Hezbollah may open a northern front to Israel's war with Hamas — a concern that underlines why the United States has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group off the Lebanese coast. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group is also likely to arrive in the area within the next two to three weeks. Still, if Hezbollah does act at scale against Israel, or the U.S. has intelligence to suggest a coming Hezbollah or Iranian escalation, we can expect other military deployments to follow.

Continues at - https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opin ... onary-unit


Marine unit leaves Kuwait exercise early because of ‘emerging events’

The Marine Corps’ expeditionary unit capable of special operations has departed early from a scheduled exercise with Kuwait “as a result of a emerging events,” days after war broke out.

See - https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/y ... ng-events/

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UK will send Royal Navy vessels and spy planes to support Israel - Times

LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Britain will send two Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean and begin surveillance flights over Israel in a show of military support designed to reassure Israel, the Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

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UK will send Royal Navy vessels and spy planes to support Israel - Times

LONDON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Britain will send two Royal Navy ships to the eastern Mediterranean and begin surveillance flights over Israel in a show of military support designed to reassure Israel, the Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

See - download/file.php?id=30290&mode=view - and post that goes with it.

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RFA Lyme Bay arrives in Gibraltar this morning joining RFA Argus

Logistic stop ahead of deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean for potential humanitarian aid or evacuation operations.

Photos at - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 7680563704


For now, business as usual for SNMG2 warships.

HMS Duncan conducts surface action exercises with NATO partners in Eastern Mediterranean.
Possible HMS Duncan may be detached to provide escort for auxiliaries RFA Argus & RFA Lyme Bay when they arrive in the region in the next week or so.

https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 7248427282
Also see - https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 3364690998

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UK ships and aircraft deploying to waters close to Israel

The UK government has announced the deployment of British military assets to the Eastern Mediterranean, aiming to back Israel and bolster regional stability.

From today, “Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft will commence patrols to assist partners in monitoring emerging threats to regional security”.

Their primary objective is to identify potential disruptions to regional stability, particularly the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups.

Furthermore, “a Royal Navy task group is set to relocate to the eastern Mediterranean next week” to aid humanitarian initiatives. The military package, comprising P8 aircraft, surveillance tools, two vessels (RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus), three Merlin helicopters, and a company of Royal Marines, stands ready to offer significant support to Israel and regional allies.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the urgency and significance of this deployment, remarking, “We must be unequivocal in ensuring the types of horrific scenes we’ve witnessed this week are not seen again. Our military and diplomatic teams…will collaborate with international partners to re-establish security and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the countless innocent victims of this savage attack from Hamas terrorists.”

Continues at - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-ship ... FcK-E39zT0



Prime Minister deploys UK military to Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel

The Prime Minister has deployed UK military to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and reinforce regional stability.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prim ... ort-israel