The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea as the White House considers sending a second aircraft carrier to the region to deter other countries from seeking to escalate the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. 

On Tuesday, U.S. Central Command confirmed the arrival of the strike group, consisting of the USS Gerald R. Ford nuclear-powered carrier and its eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft; the USS Normandy Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser and four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, the USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. 

Private analysts have warned that other anti-Israel militant groups in Lebanon and Syria could be drawn into the fighting, as well as Iran, the prime state military backer of Hamas, Hezbollah and other anti-Israel militant movements.

“The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation,” General Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, said in a statement.

The Pentagon announced it also will deploy U.S. Air Force F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s to augment existing fighter squadrons in the region.

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group had already been scheduled to sail this week for the Middle East. It wasn’t clear whether the Eisenhower strike group would replace or join the Ford strike group off the coast of Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.