🇺🇸🇮🇷 U.S. naval assets in the Middle East — new map
• ~30% of U.S. Navy fleet en route or in theater
• Guided-missile sub USS Georgia left Crete
• ABE CSG days away
Iranian attack against Israel delayed to allow time for a ceasefire deal & will take place at a later date (NYT)
U.S. force posture today in the Middle East is similar to the surge following the October 2023 attack:
Tehran appears to be allowing mediators time to pursue cease-fire talks: NYT
• By Friday, Israeli intelligence had assessed that Hezbollah and Iran had lowered the level of alertness in their rocket and missile units, according to five Israeli officials.
• Israel now believes the Iranian-led response — already apparently delayed several times — will take place at a later date.
• The officials have cautioned that their assessments are rapidly changing given the fluidity of events. Intelligence has been sparse and changes frequently, and Iran and Hezbollah are known to be constantly assessing the situation.
Supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln steaming toward the Middle East from the Indo-Pacific, transited the Strait of Malacca & entered the Indian Ocean today, 16 August.
The Wasp ARG is still ripping donuts in the eastern Med, most recently operating northwest of Cyprus.
USS Georgia (SSGN 729) departed Crete, Greece, on/around 15 August.
Ceasefire updates from a senior U.S. official in Doha today on background:
– Put down a final bridging proposal on every issue
– Most constructive 48 hours in many months
– Package is basically there & now in the end game
– Aim to close out this process next week once & for all
U.S. warns of “cataclysmic consequences” should Iran attack Israel.
🧵 Ian Ellis
U.S. naval assets in the Middle East — new map
Recent reports have revealed that approximately 30% of the U.S. Navy fleet is en route or already present in the Middle East. This includes the guided-missile sub USS Georgia which recently left Crete, as well as the ABE CSG which is just days away from the region.
According to the New York Times, an Iranian attack against Israel has been delayed in order to allow time for ceasefire negotiations. It is now expected to take place at a later date.
The current U.S. force posture in the Middle East resembles the surge that followed the October 2023 attack. Tehran appears to be giving mediators time to pursue cease-fire talks, as Israeli intelligence has noted a decrease in alertness among Hezbollah and Iran’s missile units.
The supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln is currently en route to the Middle East from the Indo-Pacific, having recently transited the Strait of Malacca and entered the Indian Ocean on August 16. Meanwhile, the Wasp Amphibious Readiness Group is operating in the eastern Mediterranean, near Cyprus.
Additionally, the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) departed Crete, Greece on or around August 15. Ceasefire updates from a senior U.S. official in Doha indicate that progress has been made in negotiations, with a final proposal on the table and the aim to close out the process next week.
The U.S. has issued warnings of “cataclysmic consequences” should Iran proceed with an attack on Israel. It is clear that tensions in the region remain high, and the international community is closely monitoring the situation.
For further updates on the situation, you can follow Ian Ellis on Twitter.
