Just hours after reports of Israel’s murder of a top Iranian scientist, Trump’s Pentagon deploys a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and other warships to the Persian Gulf.
A defense official claims that the move is to support troops withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan and that the decision was made before news of the attack Iran broke earlier in the day.
However, Israeli media reported last week that the U.S. was working with Israel on an operation against Iran. Two weeks ago, Donald Trump asked officials about a military strike on Iran. Removing troops from the Middle East may be a cover.
The movement puts increased American military firepower and thousands of personnel into the region through the end of the Trump Administration. It may be up to President-elect Joe Biden to decide when to withdraw them.
Barbara Starr, CNN national security correspondent
Sources
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/11/trump-pentagon-deploys-uss-nimitz-aircraft-carrier-to-the-persian-gulf-report/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-planning-to-pressure-a-fearful-iran-as-trumps-term-ends-report-says/
Photo: European Space Agency