US sails nuclear-powered submarine through Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions
22 December, 2020
The US Navy announced on Monday that it has deployed a nuclear-powered, guided-missile submarine to the Arabian Gulf as tensions with Iran continue steadily to mount.
It said that the USS Georgia submarine was accompanied by two guided-missile cruisers: the USS Port Royal and the USS Philippine Sea as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Georgia’s existence in the US 5th Fleet area of operations demonstrates the US Navy’s ability to sail and operate wherever international law allows,” the Navy said.
“As an inherently flexible manoeuvre force, with the capacity of supporting routine and contingency operations, Georgia’s occurrence demonstrates the United States’ commitment to regional partners and maritime security with a complete spectrum of capabilities to stay ready to reduce the chances of any threat anytime.”
The USS Georgia can take up to 156 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and carry as much as 66 special procedures forces.
The rare statement comes after Iran vowed revenge last month for the assassination of its top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, and prior to the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s strike on Iranian General Qassem Suleimani.
The US has vowed to retaliate should Iran launch any attacks amid the anniversary of Suleimani’s death.
“We are ready to defend ourselves, our friends and partners in your community, and we’re ready to react if necessary,” Gen Kenneth McKenzie, who oversees US forces in the Middle East, told reporters on Sunday.
“My assessment is we are in a very good position and we’ll be ready for anything the Iranians or their proxies acting for them might choose to do.”
After the January assassination of Suleimani in Iraq, Tehran launched a missile barrage at sites hosting US forces in Iraq, leading to traumatic brain injuries to 110 American troops but no deaths. Tehran also continued to use its proxy militias in Iraq to handle attacks on US forces.
Several Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq announced that they would cease attacks on US forces after President Trump’s decision to lessen US forces from approximately 3,000 to about 2,500 troops.
However, at least three rockets were launched at the US embassy in Baghdad on Sunday as Gen McKenzie toured the spot. Iraq has blamed the attack on “an outlaw group,” though no militia has yet claimed responsibility.
The US has drawn down its staff occurrence at its Iraq embassy ahead of the anniversary of Suleimani’s killing.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com