It's also something for Bashar Assad to think about.
Syria's offensive and defensive posture is oriented toward Israel - if we threaten them through Lebanon, they have a much longer and more difficult border to defend...and they can't ignore Israel.
Bashar was counting on Hezbollah in Lebanon to protect his flank....with the US now in the picture, he can no longer count on friends along that long border.
The Kearsarge is a Marine Expeditionary Force support ship; carries helicopters and landing craft - no fixed wing jets...its not a full carrier strike group...but damned potent in its own right.
‘no fixed wing jets’
It has Harriers.