Khaberni - Media reports indicated that the United States has deployed one of its most dangerous nuclear submarines, of the "Ohio" class, which is the "USS Alaska", to the Middle East, after the US Navy unusually revealed its arrival in Gibraltar.
According to reports from "The Wall Street Journal" and "The Hill," the arrival of the submarine, which docked in Gibraltar, is not just an ordinary military move, but a political and military message confirming that the United States remains capable of rapidly deploying its strategic forces and continuing to protect its NATO allies and support their military security.
The Nuclear Triad
The statement emphasized that "Ohio" class submarines form the most enduring arm of the American nuclear triad, due to their capability to carry long-range nuclear missiles and operate with near-total secrecy underwater.
The American nuclear triad refers to the strategic deterrence system, which relies on three main arms: intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, and ballistic missile submarines. "Ohio" class submarines are considered the most sensitive element of this system due to their difficulty to detect and their ability to carry out long-range nuclear strikes from the sea.
"Ohio" class submarines carry "Trident 2 D5" long-range ballistic missiles, capable of hitting targets over 4500 miles away. They are also capable of conducting long deterrence patrols without revealing their locations. Currently, the US Navy has 14 ballistic submarines of this class, plus 4 modified attack submarines. USS Alaska spotted near Gibraltar after Trump rebukes Iran
The location of the submarine was revealed hours after US President Donald Trump rejected the latest Iranian proposal regarding ending the war, describing it as completely unacceptable.
In response, Tehran escalated its nuclear rhetoric, as the spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian Parliament, Ibrahim Radaei, stated that his country might increase uranium enrichment to 90% if it faces a new attack, a level approaching military use.
Features of "USS Alaska"?
According to reports, the submarine that docked in Gibraltar is the "USS Alaska", which entered service in 1986 and subsequently underwent extensive upgrades including combat systems, navigation capabilities, and nuclear missile launch capabilities, accompanied by stringent security measures including protection from British Marines and naval boats during its entry into Gibraltar.
Pentagon Shows Off Nuclear-Armed Submarine in Gibraltar
This public appearance is one of the rare occasions, as the locations of American nuclear submarines are usually classified under the highest levels of military secrecy, which has led analysts to consider the move a strategic deterrence message rather than just a routine naval operation.
Concurrently, Washington continued to strengthen its military presence within the side of the nuclear triad, as "B-2 Spirit" stealth bombers and "B-52H" long-range bombers participated in recent military operations against Iran, alongside "Minuteman 3" intercontinental ballistic missiles that form the land arm of the American nuclear deterrence.
