The Pentagon is redirecting two US destroyers toward the Eastern Mediterranean as Israel prepares for potential Iranian retaliation following Friday’s airstrikes on Iranian military targets, according to Politico.
Two US defence officials, granted anonymity to discuss operational movements, confirmed the vessels, already stationed in the region, possess capabilities to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles.
The ships will reinforce security for US assets in the Middle East and could assist Israel in countering any Iranian missile attacks. US naval forces previously demonstrated this role in October by neutralising a large-scale Iranian missile assault on Israel.
While missile defence systems like Patriot batteries and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) unit remain deployed from the spring campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the US has simultaneously reduced its naval footprint.
Over the past month, the Trump administration halved its boosted presence, with the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group returning to Virginia. Only the Carl Vinson strike group continues operations in the Arabian Sea.
A Defence Department official did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the latest deployments.
