US Deploys USS Wasp to Mediterranean as Israel-Hezbollah Tensions Rise

The amphibious assault ship aims to deter conflict escalation and prepare for potential evacuations.

The USS Wasp joins USS Oak Hill and USS New York in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
US officials emphasize the move is primarily for deterrence, not immediate evacuation.
Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged near-daily cross-border strikes since October.
Concerns of broader war are heightened, with potential Iranian involvement if conflict escalates.
US military presence aims to provide options and maintain regional stability.