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-WgFmoWYuSt.png "Sailors and military service personnel arrive on the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship on the Hudson River during fleet week, May 24, 2023, in New York.")
The USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship, has entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea this week as part of the US effort to prevent further escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to The AP while the Wasp has the capability to assist in evacuating civilians in the event of a full-scale war between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group along the Lebanon border, a US official stated that this is not the primary reason for its rotation. The official emphasized that the main purpose is deterrence.
Another US official compared the Wasp's rotation to the deployment of the USS Bataan assault ship in the waters around Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
The USS Bataan remained in the eastern Mediterranean for months to help provide options and contain the conflict. Both officials spoke anonymously to discuss sensitive operational details.
The deployment of the Wasp was announced by US European Command this week, following the departure of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and its air wing from the region.
The Wasp is equipped with F-35 fighter jets capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings for airstrike missions off smaller ships.
Accompanying the Wasp is the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, which transports Marines, landing craft, vehicles, and cargo.
The amphibious transport dock ship USS New York, capable of delivering troops by helicopters or landing vessels, is also sailing with the Wasp.
Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have been escalating since the Oct. 7 attacks that sparked the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with near-daily cross-border strikes. While concerns about a major escalation have decreased compared to last week, the situation is being closely monitored by US officials.
