 Pentagon redeploys Navy Strike Group to the Middle East. The Pentagon has confirmed that it is redeploying its Navy Strike Group to the Middle East while U.S. President Joe Biden said additional U.S. assistance was already on the way to Israel. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that he has directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrent efforts. I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean. This includes the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the Ty Conda Roga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy as well as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hoodner, USS Rammage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. We have also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrent's posture if required. Austin also said that the U.S. government will be urgently providing the Israel defense forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions, strengthening our joint force posture in addition to the material support that we will rapidly provide to Israel underscores the United States' ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people. My team and I will continue to be in close contact with our Israeli counterparts to ensure they have what they need to protect their citizens and defend themselves against these heinous terrorist attacks," the statement by the U.S. Department of Defense said.