US sends second aircraft carrier group to Israel

The United States has informed Türkiye about sending an aircraft carrier group to the Eastern Mediterranean to carry out tasks for the possible evacuation of civilians from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone.

"The US has announced that it has appointed another aircraft carrier group. It hasn't arrived yet. Our American interlocutors reported that they would not carry out military tasks, but would be involved in an operation for the possible evacuation of civilians. We are closely monitoring these works," TRT Haber reports citing the Turkish Ministry of Defence.

Earlier, it was reported that the aircraft carrier of the Sixth Fleet of the US Navy Mount Whitney left Gaeta (Italy) on October 18 and headed for the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.

The US warships are not intended to join the fighting in Gaza or take part in Israel’s operations, but the presence of two of the Navy’s most powerful vessels is designed to send a message of deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The first carrier strike group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived off the coast of Israel last week.