Washington: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the dispatch of missile-guided submarines to West Asia and directed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to move faster towards the region. This information has been given by the US Defense Ministry. Austin has issued these orders at a time when the US and its allies are trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to reduce the growing tension in the region after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya in Tehran and prominent Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukur in Beirut. Officials fear retaliatory attacks from Iran and Hezbollah after these assassinations. This is why the US is increasing its military presence in the West Asia region. 

America is ready to help Israel.

Major General Pat Ryder, press secretary of the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US Defense Ministry, said in a statement that Austin spoke to Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and reiterated America's commitment to take every possible step to protect Israel. According to Ryder, in a conversation with Gallant, Austin mentioned strengthening the presence and capabilities of US military forces in West Asia in view of the increasing regional tensions. The USS Abraham Lincoln, present in the Asia Pacific region, has already been ordered to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group in the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt will start returning from West Asia soon. 

Attention is being paid to the common citizens.

Defense Secretary Austin said last week that the USS Abraham Lincoln would arrive in the Central Command area by the end of this month. It was not clear on Sunday what Austin's latest order meant or how soon the USS Abraham Lincoln would move to West Asia. Apart from F-35 fighter jets, F/A-18 fighter jets are deployed on this aircraft carrier. Ryder also did not say how soon the USS Georgia guided missile submarine would reach the region. He said Austin and Gallant also discussed Israel's military operations in Gaza and the importance of minimizing civilian casualties. (AP)