China PLA deploys 6 warships to Middle East in response to US navy’s strong presence in Israel-Hamas war
High-capacity vessels such as the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Zibo, the frigate Jingzhou, and the integrated supply ship Qiandaohu are included within this fleet.
As tension grows in the Middle East, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has intensified its presence in the region. The PLA, reported by the South China Morning Post, has currently deployed six warships. High-capacity vessels such as the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Zibo, the frigate Jingzhou, and the integrated supply ship Qiandaohu are included within this fleet. These vessels, as part of the PLA’s 44th Naval Escort Task Force, have recently participated in joint military exercises with Oman.
The US Increases its Military Presence
Almost parallelly, the US has escalated its military presence in the region. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s most advanced carrier, along with its battle group, have been dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean. Additionally, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is set to join them soon. The Pentagon has supplemented this power show by allocating the USS Mount Whitney, an auxiliary command ship, to the Eastern Mediterranean.
On October 19, the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, successfully intercepted and neutralized multiple Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea.
It’s important to note that all this US deployment comes at a critical time when Israel has been warning of the dangers posed by Iran-backed Hezbollah and the escalating tensions in neighboring Lebanon.
Israel and Hamas: An Ongoing Conflict
The ongoing skirmish between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian militant organization deemed a terrorist entity by the US and EU, has created an environment of unrest. The conflict, which began on October 7, has already claimed the lives of more than 4,300 individuals, including disputed hospital explosion casualties. Syrian state media reports corroborate the escalation, revealing that the Israeli military’s airstrikes have targeted critical infrastructure in Syria, damaging key facilities such as international airports in Damascus and Aleppo.
Hospitals in Crisis Amidst the War
The battle’s collateral damage exceeds human lives. Hospitals overflowing with patients and displaced persons are grappling with critical shortages of medical supplies and generator fuel. World Health Organization representatives have highlighted that a minimum of 130 premature babies are in grave danger due to the fuel crisis. Meanwhile, Israel continues its blockade, preventing fuel and electricity supplies from reaching the necessary areas.
US Commitment to Southern Civilian Israeli Blockade
The US commitment to peace and assailant-free assistance for Gaza’s civilian populace was recently reiterated by President Joe Biden. This includes food, water, medical care, and other forms of assistance. Furthermore, the US plans to deploy a THAAD battery and additional Patriot battalions, increasing their military footprint in the region as communicated by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. Humanitarian aid is simultaneously being dispatched, with a fleet of 20 trucks delivering relief supplies through the Rafah crossing with Egypt.
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