US to keep two aircraft carrier strike groups in Middle East: Pentagon
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the presence of two aircraft carrier strike groups in the Middle East, the Pentagon says as it strengthens the US military presence amid soaring regional tensions.
The announcement, made in a summary of a call between Austin and his Israeli counterpart, represents a shift. The Pentagon had initially deployed the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group into the region with a plan to replace the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.
UN chief calls for ‘immediate’ de-escalation
Guterres says the exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel puts both Lebanese and Israeli populations at risk and threatens “regional security and stability”. “I call for immediate de-escalation and appeal to the parties to return to a cessation of hostilities,” the secretary-general posted on X.
I'm deeply concerned by the increase in exchanges of fire across the Blue
Line.
These actions put the Lebanese & Israeli populations at risk & they threaten regional security & stability.
I call for immediate de-escalation & appeal to the parties to return to a cessation of…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 25, 2024
Israeli forces carry out raid in southern Lebanon
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