Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Sherman, U.S. Navy via AP
- A US aircraft carrier joined forces with a large amphibious assault ship in the Arabian Sea for joint drills near Iran.
- The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and the USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, trained to bolster their lethality as well as deter regional threats.
- Over the past two weeks, tensions between Washington and Iran have been on the rise, raising the possibility of conflict.
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The US Navy and Marine Corps have been flexing their muscles in the Arabian Sea as tensions with Iran mount, sparking fears of conflict.
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group joined forces with the USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit for exercises over the weekend.
Read more: The US is sending a ton of firepower to take on Iran — here’s everything headed its way
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was recently deployed to the Middle East to deter Iran, which the US has accused of plotting attacks on US interests in the region. The USS Kearsarge — an amphibious assault ship that launches helicopters and tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys from its flight deck and landing craft from its well deck — was already operating in the area.
Read more: Step aboard the USS Kearsarge, the US Navy workhorse that takes Marines to war
The exercises, which come on the heels of a deterrence patrol involving bombers and stealth fighters, were "aimed towards increasing our lethality and agility to respond to threats, and deterring destabilizing actions in this important region," said Rear Adm. John Wade, the strike group commander.
Associated Press
Source: US Navy
Read more: US fighters and bombers flew over the Persian Gulf in a warning to Iran
Tensions with Iran have been on the rise since the US detected "clear indications that Iranian and Iranian proxy forces were making preparations to possibly attack US forces in the region." While the nature of the threat has remained unclear, there have been reports the threat was against US interests in the region.
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian M. Wilbur, U.S. Navy via AP
Source: US Central Command
Read more: How the Trump administration got into a showdown with Iran that could lead to war
On Sunday, President Donald Trump warned on Twitter that "if Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran."
Associated Press
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- How the Trump administration got into a showdown with Iran that could lead to war
- A heavily armed US carrier strike group has moved into position near Iran as tensions mount
- US fighters and bombers flew over the Persian Gulf in a warning to Iran
Source: Business Insider – rpickrell@businessinsider.com (Ryan Pickrell)