A US Navy destroyer visited Eilat, Israel, as the US surges military forces in the Middle East amid heightened tensions with Tehran.
EILAT: A US Navy destroyer made a port visit to the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Friday, video footage showed.
The USS Delbert D. Black arrived on the Gulf of Aqaba as the US surges military forces in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.
The destroyer is one of six US destroyers now in the region, along with an aircraft carrier and three other littoral combat ships.
Israeli media reported the visit to the Red Sea city was pre-planned and part of ongoing US-Israeli military cooperation.
The Israeli military and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The deployment comes as US President Donald Trump signalled he is open to talks with Iran.
A US defence official said the military could not discuss operational details for security reasons.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US military was prepared to carry out whatever course of action the president decided.
Trump has warned Iran to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme or face harsher US action.
Tehran has threatened retaliation against the United States, Israel and their allies in the event of an attack.
Trump has also said the US has an “armada” heading towards Iran, though he said he hoped it would not be used.
Israel’s Chief of the General Staff said last week that the military was prepared for a range of scenarios.
The commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, visited Israel last week to deepen strategic ties. – Reuters
