(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In its efforts to assist Israel, Britain will send reconnaissance aircraft and two support ships, RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus, along with 100 Royal Marines personnel to the waters of the country.
In addition to aiding Israel, the British military assets’ deployment aims to prevent the escalation of conflict between Hamas and Tel Aviv.
At this time, Britain already has a warship in the eastern Mediterranean waters, HMS Duncan, while another warship, HMS Lancaster, is stationed in the Persian Gulf.
According to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the deployment of the country’s military assets to Israel is to support efforts to maintain stability in the region and prevent the existing conflict from spreading. It is also to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the civilian population.
He also stated that reconnaissance flights, including P-8 Poseidon aircraft and others, will commence on Friday to monitor any attempts to deliver weapons to Hezbollah fighters by Iran and Russia.
Britain has also placed its military assets on standby at its Akrotiri base in Cyprus, at the time when the Israeli military is set to begin ground operations in the Gaza Strip.
The country is following the footsteps of the United States, which has deployed its aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, to the waters of Israel, along with accompanying warships.
Besides the USS Gerald R. Ford, Washington is also considering deploying its second aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, to Israel’s waters.
The second U.S. aircraft carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, is already in the Middle East and is likely to “divert” to the waters of Israel to accompany the first aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford.
Both U.S. aircraft carriers carry around 200 fighter planes.
According to U.S. Department of Defense officials, the presence of both aircraft carriers is to show support for Israel and serve as a “warning” to any third parties attempting to interfere in the conflict between Israel and Hamas at the moment.
Defense analysts suggest that the deployment of U.S. and British military assets serves as a “warning” to Iran not to attempt to interfere in the ongoing conflict by supporting Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
In addition to sending its aircraft carriers to Israel’s waters as a sign of support for the Jewish state, the United States is reportedly sending more weapons and ammunition to Israel in the coming days to assist its military.
Israel is said to be facing a shortage of ammunition and other weaponry after it used strategic reserves to assist Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia. — DSA
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