(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIAS) — Although Israel frequently touts having the most formidable and sophisticated military in the Middle East, it has been compelled to seek military assistance and support from the United States when challenged by the armed group Hezbollah.
As tensions mount with a potential large-scale conflict between Hezbollah and Israel imminent, the U.S. has announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) to the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the Israeli coast.
This carrier, equipped with over 100 various fighter jets, will serve as a “protector” to Israel in the event of a major conflict with Hezbollah.
Analysts suggest that U.S. aircraft operating from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower will likely collaborate with Israeli Air Force jets in targeting Hezbollah positions if war erupts.
These American jets will also assist the Israeli forces in intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, and ground support.
The White House’s decision to deploy the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Mediterranean follows assurances given to Israel of “full support” should the conflict with Hezbollah escalate.
However, at the same time, Washington has clarified that no American troops will be deployed to any part of Lebanon if a conflict erupts between the two sides.
Despite current tensions between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the U.S. will continue to provide “full support” to Israel.
Presently, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is still in the Red Sea, conducting operations to protect commercial ships from missile threats and suicide drones launched by Houthi fighters.
The U.S. expresses concern over Israel’s military capability to handle a Hezbollah attack.
Recently, Washington voiced concerns about Israel’s “Iron Dome” air defense system’s ability to cope with missile and suicide drone attacks from Hezbollah, as a major conflict looms, as predicted by many.
As reported by CNN, three senior U.S. defense officials have expressed concerns about the Iron Dome’s ability to handle an increased assault of missiles and rockets from Hezbollah.
“Our studies have found that parts of the Iron Dome air defense system would struggle to deal with an escalation of missile and rocket attacks from Hezbollah if a major conflict were to break out,” a U.S. official said.
For years, Hezbollah has amassed hundreds of thousands of rockets of various calibers and missiles in preparation for potential conflict with Israel.
Analysts estimate that Hezbollah fighters possess between 150,000 rockets of various types to up to one million rockets.
Israeli military officials also acknowledge that the Iron Dome air defense system faces significant challenges in dealing with an increased onslaught of rockets and missiles from Hezbollah.
American concerns about the Iron Dome’s capabilities also stem from an incident earlier this month where Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon successfully destroyed an Iron Dome air defense system launcher belonging to the Israeli military using a third-generation anti-tank guided missile “Almas,” supplied by Iran.
Hezbollah has released videos and images showing the “Almas” missile obliterating an Iron Dome launcher at an Israeli military base in Ramot Naftali. — DSA