US Bolsters Forces Amid Israel-Iran Missile Strikes

The United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East in response to escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, marked by mutual missile strikes and mounting casualties. The USS Nimitz and its strike group, along with the USS Carl Vinson and other naval assets, have been redeployed to the region, canceling scheduled stops elsewhere. Additional U.S. Navy destroyers and dozens of Air Force refueling tankers have also been sent to support potential operations. These moves follow Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and intelligence reports indicating Iran is nearing nuclear weapons capability. U.S. officials stress that the deployments are defensive and that the U.S. has not directly engaged in hostilities. Precautionary measures, such as the voluntary departure of military dependents from U.S. bases, have been enacted due to the heightened risk of broader regional conflict.