The US has sent a nuclear submarine to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region over the Hamas-Israel war.
“On November 5, 2023, an Ohio-class submarine arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility,” US Central Command, which covers the Middle East, said on X.
It was an unusual announcement viewed by some analysts as a message to Iran, which backs Hamas. It came as Isreal’s military hailed a “significant” move after encircling Gaza City, dividing the besieged coastal strip into two.
“Today there is north Gaza and south Gaza,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters, calling it a “significant stage” in Israel’s war against the Hamas militant group in the enclave.
The move sets the stage for Israeli troops to enter the city in the coming hours and days, raising the prospect of street fighting with Hamas.
