U.S. Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Mideast Amidst Iranian Crackdown and Rising Tensions
A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, arrived in the Middle East amidst escalating tensions with Iran, as activists reported that at least 6,126 people have been killed in Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests, according to the Associated Press. The carrier group's arrival, which includes three destroyers, was intended to "promote regional security and stability," U.S. Central Command said on social media Monday.
The strike group, previously located in the Indian Ocean, was not in the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran, according to Central Command. The deployment brings thousands of additional service members to the region, which had been without a U.S. aircraft carrier since October. The USS Gerald R. Ford was ordered to sail to the Caribbean at that time as part of a pressure campaign on then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group coincided with reports of a bloody crackdown in Iran. Activists stated that at least 6,126 people have been killed during nationwide protests. The protests and subsequent crackdown occurred as President Trump weighed potential military action against Iran.
In other news, President Trump threatened to increase tariffs on South Korean goods because the country's national assembly had not yet approved the trade framework announced the previous year, Fortune reported. Trump stated on social media that import taxes would be raised on autos, lumber, and pharmaceutical drugs from South Korea, with the rate on other goods increasing from 15% to 25%. "Our Trade Deals are very important to America," Trump said. "In each of these Deals, we have acted swiftly to reduce our TARIFFS in line with the Transaction agreed to."
Meanwhile, the Trump administration secured an appeals court order blocking a judge's restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics for dealing with protesters in Minnesota, according to Fortune. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put an indefinite hold on a lower-court judge's January 16 order that prevented officers from arresting, detaining, pepper-spraying, or retaliating against peaceful protesters in Minneapolis. The ruling will remain paused while the government's appeal plays out.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment