Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides. Americans were reported to be among those killed and missing. 

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance. 

The large deployment, which also includes a host of ships and warplanes, underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to deter the conflict from growing. But the Israeli government formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas. 

Preliminary reports indicate at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks and an additional seven were missing and unaccounted for, according to a US official. The numbers were in flux and could change as a fuller accounting is compiled, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the US Embassy in Jerusalem. Most, if not all, of those reported dead or missing are dual US-Israeli citizens, the official said. 

The Pentagon has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. Photo / AP 

Along with the Ford group, the US is sending the cruiser USS Normandy, destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt and augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. 

“The US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,” Austin said in a statement. 

In addition, the Biden administration “will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and [will arrive] in the coming days”, Austin said. 

The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group was already in the Mediterranean. Last week, it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment. 

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a telephone call on Sunday, discussed “the taking of hostages by Hamas terrorists, including entire families, the elderly and young children”, according to a White House statement describing their conversation. Biden stressed that all countries “must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities”. 

The president updated Netanyahu on US diplomatic efforts and said additional assistance for Israeli forces was on the way, with more to come in the days ahead, the White House said. 

They also discussed ways “to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation”. 

On Capitol Hill, the House is preparing a bipartisan resolution that says it “stands with Israel” and condemns “Hamas’ brutal war”. 

The resolution from the leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to be among the first items considered for voting once the House elects a new Speaker. 

“Now is the time to show the world the United States firmly stands with our friend and ally Israel in our condemnation of this heinous attack by Iran-backed terrorists,” said the committee chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas. 

House business is currently at a standstill after the historic ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. 

Majority Republicans plan to kick off the selection process, in private, at a Tuesday evening forum where candidates can address their colleagues. The real contest could come as soon as Wednesday when the House next convenes.