The US military confirmed on November 6 that its nuclear-powered Ohio-class submarine had been deployed to the Middle East.

"On November 5, the Ohio-class submarine arrived in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) area of ​​responsibility," CENTCOM announced on social network X.

The statement did not provide details about the deployment or the location of the vessel, but included a photo that was said to show the submarine passing through the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal runs through Egypt, borders Israel, and connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the deployment of the submarine was part of a US force redeployment and aimed at preventing the risk of the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading.

Mr. Kirby emphasized that this move is necessary to protect US forces and military infrastructure in the region, as well as to send a strong deterrent message to forces that intend to escalate tensions in the Middle East.

According to Israel's Ynet news site, the new submarine deployed in the region is the largest of 14 ballistic missile submarines operated by the US Navy and equipped with ballistic missiles.

TASS news agency quoted a US military source as saying that this submarine is capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk missiles or 66 Navy SEALs.