U.S. deploys nuclear submarine to Middle East

— Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia to the Middle East and told the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to speed up its voyage to the region, as Israeli security officials anticipate imminent direct retaliation from Iran over the recent assassination of a top Hamas leader in Tehran.

The U.S. deployment was announced by the Defense Department on Sunday after talks between Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The pair discussed efforts to “deter aggression” by Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, according to a readout of the call.

Iran has blamed Israel for the assassination last month of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh and is promising revenge.

Israel has not commented on the killing but told U.S. officials immediately afterward that it was responsible.

Amid the spiraling tensions, the United States is bolstering its presence in the region because, in the case of escalation, it “will want to be on the ground to help Israel to defend itself, to prevent damage, and then ensure that Israel does not respond,” Amidror said.