This move sends a double message.
Not only to Hizbullah/Hamas and Syria but to Iran as well.
It does not take much to reach Iran by air from the Eastern Med.
So, Unless I am mistaken, we now have 4 CSG’s in striking distance of Iran.
That’s something to think about. Eh Mr. Almadidawhatzis...
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.