The United States military has deployed a nuclear-powered submarine to the Middle East in a show of deterrence against further escalation. The vessel comes as the Israel-Hamas war nears one-month-old. Israel declared war after Hamas-led forces slaughtered 1,400 people during a surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7.
U.S. Central Command provided no additional details in a statement Sunday, though it posted an image that appeared to show an Ohio-class submarine in Egypt’s Suez Canal near its Suez Canal Bridge.
The U.S. acknowledging the use of these submarines or information about their location is very rare as they represent part of America’s so-called “nuclear triad” of atomic weapons — which also includes land-based ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs aboard strategic bombers.
Ohio-class submarines can carry nuclear ballistic missiles as well as cruise missiles. It is not immediately clear if the submarine now operating near Israel is carrying nuclear ballistic missiles.
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The U.S. military has acknowledged positioning a nuclear-capable submarine in the Middle East. (US CENTCOM)
The U.S. continues to bolster its own forces in the Mediterranean Sea and in the surrounding region as tensions remain high with Iran, which financially and militarily supports Hamas and Hezbollah, both terror groups currently attacking Israel.
Separately, Central Command shared an image of a nuclear-capable B-1 bomber also operating in the Mideast.
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USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, is conducting naval operations in the Mideast as Israel continues its war with Hamas in Gaza. (Miguel Angel Contreras/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
The U.S. has deployed or redirected more than 17,350 military personnel to the region since Oct. 7. This includes those in carrier strike groups, troops deployed and the Bataan amphibious ready group.
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The U.S. has deployed or redirected more than 17,350 military personnel to the region since Oct. 7. (US CENTCOM)
The U.S. has also sent F-35’s F-15’s, F-16’s, A-10’s and F-18’s to the Middle East.
Fox News’ Liz Friden and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
