Military experts and analysts praised the move, which is often called a "show of force."

But while the focus is on the message they are sending to the region, experts and a senior defense official say there are practical benefits beyond raising the flag: the ships provide the White House with the ability to resupply weapons and ammunition to the Israelis, gather intelligence and provide an additional long-term layer of defense for Israel, the Pentagon hopes. to deter other players from expanding the conflict.

"The presence of the US Navy in the war zone in the Middle East is critical and the right thing to do," said John Ferrari, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

The phrase "show of force" is often used to describe placing ships, fighter jets and other assets near potential conflict zones to signal that the United States is ready to take military action if necessary. A senior security official said that the move was intended in part to demonstrate the commitment of the US to defend Israel - when the aircraft carrier will arrive in the area "very soon".

"Bringing an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean provides President Joe Biden with a whole range of options to support Israel," said Jonathan Lord, a senior fellow at the New Center for American Security and a former member of the US Armed Services Committee.

For example, an aircraft carrier strike group, consisting of an aircraft carrier, a cruiser and four destroyers, can provide ballistic missile defense to Israel while its forces handle other missions, said Mark Montgomery, Israel's director of defense systems.