This morning reports confirmed that the American aircraft carrier strike group (AUG) commanded by USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) powered by nuclear energy has retreated several hundred kilometers southwest of the Persian Gulf.
Let's be honest: this is not a suspension of preparations for an attack on Iran.
This is a tactical withdrawal, a recalibration forced by reality.
The most likely reason for the withdrawal is a simple matter: survival. Remaining closer would place the aircraft carrier group directly within range of the most dangerous Iranian anti-ship weapons, including Khalij Fars and Hormuz-2 ballistic missiles (with a range of 300-350 km, featuring electro-optical tracking), as well as families of Fateh-313 and Zolfaghar missiles and many subsonic anti-ship systems. This move potentially also reduces exposure to advanced threats, such as the Chinese YJ-18, if Iran possesses or receives them.
Reports indicate that the strike group has moved behind the mountains of Oman, suggesting a deliberate effort by the United States Navy to conceal the aircraft carrier formation from Iranian radar and electro-optical monitoring systems located in the mountainous area. In other words, the most powerful navy in the world is now using geography as cover.
Let's be honest: this is not a suspension of preparations for an attack on Iran.
This is a tactical withdrawal, a recalibration forced by reality.
The most likely reason for the withdrawal is a simple matter: survival. Remaining closer would place the aircraft carrier group directly within range of the most dangerous Iranian anti-ship weapons, including Khalij Fars and Hormuz-2 ballistic missiles (with a range of 300-350 km, featuring electro-optical tracking), as well as families of Fateh-313 and Zolfaghar missiles and many subsonic anti-ship systems. This move potentially also reduces exposure to advanced threats, such as the Chinese YJ-18, if Iran possesses or receives them.
Reports indicate that the strike group has moved behind the mountains of Oman, suggesting a deliberate effort by the United States Navy to conceal the aircraft carrier formation from Iranian radar and electro-optical monitoring systems located in the mountainous area. In other words, the most powerful navy in the world is now using geography as cover.
