The U.S. is accelerating the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East amid an imminent threat to Israel from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah, Iran’s largest top terrorist proxy group.

The announcement came after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Sunday about the situation.

The Pentagon said in a statement that the U.S. was taking “every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions.”

“Reinforcing this commitment, the Secretary Austin has ordered the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group, equipped with F-35C fighters, to accelerate its transit to the Central Command area of responsibility, adding to the capabilities already provided by the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group,” the statement continued. “Additionally, the Secretary has ordered the USS Georgia (SSGN 729) guided missile submarine to the Central Command region.”

The expected attack comes after Israel killed Fuad Shukr last month, Hezbollah’s “most senior military commander and the head of its Strategic Unit” and Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s “right-hand man”, according to the IDF.

Shukr was responsible for directing all of Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel since Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 terrorist attack in which thousands of terrorists stormed into Israel from Gaza and murdered 1,200 people, wounded more than 5,000, and took hundreds of people hostage.

The U.S. government had placed a $5 million bounty on Shukr for playing a “central role in the October 23, 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut which killed 241 U.S. military personnel and wounded 128 others,” according to the U.S. State Department.

Israel is also believed to be behind the killing last month of Hamas terrorist leader Ismail Haniyeh in a bombing on a guest house he was staying at inside Iran.

Various intelligence assessments have concluded that the attack will be coordinated between Iran and Hezbollah and will likely occur early this week.

Vice President Kamala Harris promised to deliver her official policy platform sometime “next week” — and critics were quick to point out the fact that she already did deliver a presidential platform, and her own party rejected it, in 2019.

Real Clear Politics reporter Philip Wegmann posted the update via X, saying, “Vice President Harris says to expect a policy platform from her ‘next week,’ telling reporters ‘it’ll be focused on the economy and what we need to do to bring down costs.'”

Vice President Harris says to expect a policy platform from her “next week,” telling reporters “it’ll be focused on the economy and what we need to do to bring down costs.”

— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) August 10, 2024

Critics were quick to point out the fact that Harris — who was bumped to the top of the 2024 Democratic ticket despite not winning a single primary vote on her own — already went public with a presidential policy platform in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election. Harris, who ran in the Democratic primary, struggled to gain traction with voters and ultimately dropped out of the race before the first caucuses and primaries even took place.

“Her platform has already been announced. By her: Eliminate private health insurance, the Green New Deal, ban fracking, decriminalize illegal immigration, taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants, gun confiscation & redirecting funds away from police. All on the record,” Guy Benson posted in response.

Her platform has already been announced. By her: Eliminate private health insurance, the Green New Deal, ban fracking, decriminalize illegal immigration, taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants, gun confiscation & redirecting funds away from police. All on the record. https://t.co/q8Dau4ylxs

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 11, 2024

“She’s been VP for over 3 years but she’ll share some ideas ‘next week.’ Dont be duped,” Richard Grenell added.

She’s been VP for over 3 years but she’ll share some ideas “next week”.

Dont be duped. https://t.co/cRIGfuZgEX

— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) August 11, 2024

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) added, “1) What happened to ‘Bidenomics is working’?  2) Why isn’t Kamala Harris focused on bringing down costs in the job she has now?”

1) What happened to “Bidenomics is working”?

2) Why isn’t Kamala Harris focused on bringing down costs in the job she has now? https://t.co/nISXbCVBzW

— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) August 11, 2024

CNN Republican commentator Scott Jennings jabbed at Harris over her recent policy theft, namely that she would support a policy ending taxes on tips — just weeks after former President Donald Trump announced that he would end taxes on tips — despite the Biden-Harris administration’s earlier moves to enforce taxation on tips.

“Why does it take until next week to cut and paste from Trump’s website?” Jennings asked.

Why does it take until next week to cut and paste from Trump’s website? https://t.co/ebk8N1fufp

— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) August 11, 2024