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Mount Whitney deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean

On Oct 18, 2023, the Pentagon has confirmed that it is sending the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and at least two amphibs to the Eastern Mediterranean in order to be ready for any possible crisis-response mission in Israel or Gaza, and also dispatching the U.S. 6th Fleet command ship, USS 'Mount Whitney', to join the growing flotilla off the Israeli coast, in order to support Israel’s defense through security assistance; second, send a clear message of deterrence to any actors considering involvement in the conflict; and to be vigilant against any threats to U.S. forces. The three amphibs and approximately 2,000 Marines of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) have been in the general region since summer. USS' Bataan' and USS 'Carter Hall' were on a separate mission near the Strait of Hormuz and now under way back towards Israel; the third ship in the ARG, USS 'Mesa Verde', has departed Spain and put to sea in the Mediterranean for unspecified purposes. The aircraft carrier USS 'Gerald R. Ford' and her escorts are already stationed off the coast of Gaza, and the carrier USS 'Dwight D. Eisenhower' is under way to join the force. The USS 'Mount Whitney' will bring the capabilities of a Blue Ridge-class command ship to the growing fleet of warships off Israel's coast, seving as the flagship of U.S. 6th Fleet and as the afloat command platform for NATO's naval forces. The ship is can carry supplies to support a mass evacuation of up to 3,000 personnel, a useful capability in the event that American citizens have to be rescued from a conflict.