Ten US warships in Middle East as Trump threatens Iran
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group boasts three destroyers and F-35C stealth warplanes.
PHOTO: AFP
- US military presence in the Middle East increases to 10 warships, equalling the force sent to the Caribbean prior to the Venezuela operation.
- Trump warns Iran on Truth Social, stating a "massive Armada is heading to Iran" that is "ready, willing, and able" to act "with speed and violence".
- Iran's UN mission responds, saying they are ready for dialogue but will defend themselves and "respond like never before!" if attacked.
AI generated
WASHINGTON - The recent arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East brings the number of US warships in the region to 10, putting significant firepower at President Donald Trump’s disposal if he decides to strike Iran.
The number of ships in the Middle East is now roughly equal to that sent to the Caribbean ahead of the stunning US operation
A US official on Jan 28 put the total number of US ships in the Middle East at 10.
The figure includes the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, which boasts three destroyers and F-35C stealth warplanes.
There are also six other US warships operating in the region – three destroyers and three littoral combat ships.
“A massive Armada is heading to Iran,” Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Jan 28, saying: “Like with Venezuela, it is, ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.”
“Time is running out,” he added, urging Tehran to “MAKE A DEAL!”
Tehran’s mission to the United Nations hit back, saying in a post on X that the country “stands ready for dialogue” but “IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!”
The carrier and its accompanying ships were ordered to the Middle East as Iran cracked down on protests
The clerical leadership that took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution responded to the demonstrations with deadly force and has held onto power, with many opponents of the system looking to outside intervention as the most likely driver of change.
Mr Trump had repeatedly warned Iran that if it killed protesters, the United States would intervene militarily, and also encouraged Iranians to take over state institutions,
He pulled back from ordering strikes
