Article by viory
USS Tulsa combat ship was seen near Singapore on Wednesday as Washington rushed about 2,500 marines towards the Middle East amid the escalating tensions.
Footage shows the vessel with a helicopter visible on its deck.
It comes after the US Navy’s assault ship USS Tripoli departed Japan’s Okinawa on March 1. On Tuesday, USS Tripoli briefly stopped at Penang port in Malaysia with another combat ship, USS Santa Barbara.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore continues to host rotational deployments of US aircraft and naval vessels, including Littoral Combat Ships such as the USS Tulsa.
On Friday, the Pentagon ordered the deployment of 2,500 marines and several warships toward the Middle East as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.
The important marine route, which normally carries around 20 per cent of global oil shipments, was closed by Iran in response to joint US-Israel attacks, triggering surging energy prices and raising fears of economic fallout.
This comes as President Trump called on March 14 for allies such as Japan and South Korea to take a bigger role in policing the Strait, arguing that their energy security is more directly at risk than that of the United States.
A joint US-Israeli operation against Iranian targets started on February 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and US military positions in the region, while explosions were reported across Gulf countries.
According to the most recent figures, the Iranian side has reported over 1,400 dead, with 13 deaths of military personnel admitted by the US side.
Article by viory
More from Wake Up Singapore:
If you have a story or a tip-off, email admin@wakeup.sg or get in touch via Whatsapp at 8882 5913.
Interested in advertising on our media channels? Reach out to us at admin@wakeup.sg!
Since you have made it to the end of the article, follow Wake Up Singapore on Telegram and X!
Wake Up Singapore is a volunteer-run site that covers alternative views in Singapore. If you want to volunteer with us, sign up here!
