Suddenly! The United States announced: increase troops! The US State Department issued a "global warning", what is the situation? Israeli stocks tumbled, Moody's: or downgrade

The situation between Palestine and Israel is extremely tense!

According to the US "Army Times" website reported on October 19, the US Navy recently announced that the flagship of the US Sixth Fleet "Mount Whitney" is heading to the Eastern Mediterranean to support US operations there. Tensions in the region escalate as Israel and Hamas are at war. Mount Whitney will join other U.S. assets already sent to the Eastern Mediterranean — including two carrier battle groups and an amphibious assault ship.

Notably, Mount Whitney is a command ship with advanced command, control, communications and intelligence capabilities, and is the tactical command center for NATO's "Joint Protector" operation and the U.S. military's 2011 Odyssey Dawn operation against the Libyan regime.

In addition, on October 19, local time, the U.S. State Department issued a "global warning" to U.S. citizens overseas. "Given the heightened tensions around the world, there is a possibility of terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests," the statement said, advising U.S. citizens overseas to remain vigilant. The last time the U.S. State Department issued a "global warning" was on August 2, 2022.

In response to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, international rating agencies also have the latest developments. On October 19, Moody's, one of the three major international rating agencies, warned that Israel's credit rating could be downgraded, including long-term foreign and local currency ratings, given the seriousness of the new Palestinian-Israeli conflict. On the same day, the Tel Aviv TA35 index, the benchmark Israeli stock index, tumbled nearly 2%.

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The U.S. military announced a surge in troops

According to the reference news quoted by the US "Army Times" website, the US Navy announced on the 18th local time that the flagship of the US Sixth Fleet "Mount Whitney" is heading to the Eastern Mediterranean to support US operations there. Tensions in the region escalate as Israel and Hamas are at war.

The Italy-based flagship, which departed on the 18th, will join other U.S. assets already sent to the Eastern Mediterranean — including two aircraft carrier battle groups and an amphibious assault ship — to support Israel and prevent a broader conflict from erupting.

The Sixth Fleet did not specify what Mount Whitney would do upon arrival. But the 52-year-old Mount Whitney is a command ship with advanced command, control, communications and intelligence capabilities, with an onboard commander capable of directing air, ground and maritime forces from a single location and processing large amounts of data on the move, the Navy said.

Notably, Mount Whitney was the tactical command center for NATO's Joint Protector operation and Operation Odyssey Dawn, which struck the Libyan regime in 2011.

Currently in Israel and near the coast of Gaza is the "Gerald M. USS R. Ford, which arrived in the eastern Mediterranean last week. It is not clear how long the aircraft carrier will stay on the Israeli coast. The Pentagon announced on the 17th that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved the extension of the deployment of the "Ford" aircraft carrier so that it can stay in the area longer.

U.S. State Department issues "global warning"

According to Reuters, CNN, CNBC and other media reports, on October 19, local time, the US State Department issued a global security warning to overseas US citizens.

(Screenshot of the official website of the US Department of State)

"Given the heightened tensions around the world, there is a possibility of terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests," the statement said, advising U.S. citizens overseas to remain vigilant. The statement advises U.S. citizens abroad to "remain vigilant in places frequented by tourists" and participate in the U.S. Department of State's "Smart Traveler Registration Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts." ”

The "global warning" issued by the U.S. State Department does not address any specific global event, but the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since October 7 has killed thousands of people so far. U.S. Attorney General Garland said on the 19th that the U.S. Department of Justice is paying attention to the rise of threats related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Garland said he had instructed the FBI and the federal prosecutor's office last week to cooperate with state and local law enforcement agencies to counter the threat.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department raised its travel warning level for Lebanon, warning U.S. citizens not to travel to the country because of "unpredictable rocket, missile and artillery exchanges between Israel and the Allah or other armed factions." The U.S. State Department has instructed U.S. citizens who have left Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon for assistance to complete a crisis acceptance form.

It is understood that the last time the US State Department issued a "global warning" was on August 2, 2022. On July 30, 2022, the United States launched airstrikes against a key al-Qaida target in Afghanistan, killing its leader, al-Zawahiri. Then, on August 2, the U.S. State Department issued a global warning to citizens abroad that supporters of al-Qaida or its affiliated terrorist groups could attempt to attack U.S. facilities, personnel or citizens. The statement warned U.S. citizens abroad to remain vigilant.

Moody's: Or downward

On October 19, Moody's, one of the three major international rating agencies, warned that Israel's credit rating could be downgraded, including long-term foreign and local currency ratings, given the seriousness of the new Palestinian-Israeli conflict. On the same day, the Tel Aviv TA35 index, the benchmark Israeli stock index, fell nearly 2%. Since the outbreak of a new round of conflict between Palestine and Israel on October 7, the Tel Aviv TA35 index has fallen by nearly 9%.

"Previously, Israel's credit profile has proven to withstand terrorist attacks and military conflict," Moody's said. But the gravity of the current military conflict could have a more lasting and significant impact on Israel's credit. Moody's said its review would focus on the duration and scale of the conflict, as well as its impact on Israel's economy, institutions and public finances. The credit rating company said the review could take longer than the usual three months.

A downgrade could increase Israel's borrowing costs. Moody's also released a report last week warning that the resilience the Israeli economy has shown in the past amid terrorist attacks and military operations could be challenged in the coming weeks.

Thirteen days have passed since the outbreak of the current round of conflict between Palestine and Israel on October 7, and so far, the conflict is still continuing, with more than 5,200 deaths on both Palestinian and Israeli sides, including 3,859 on the Palestinian side and more than 1,400 on the Israeli side.

On the 19th, rocket air defense sirens sounded in many places in Israel, and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) subsequently claimed part of the attack. For its part, Israel continued to launch air strikes against the Palestinian Gaza Strip, resulting in numerous casualties. There were reports that Israeli air strikes had affected a school hosting displaced persons in Gaza.

The Israeli defense minister told the Israeli army on the border of the Gaza Strip on the 19th that the order to attack Gaza would be issued soon. According to the "Jerusalem Post" quoted by the Israeli military, from the night of the 19th to the early morning of the 20th, the Israel Defense Forces attacked more than 100 military targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, including underground tunnels, weapons warehouses and dozens of command centers.

In addition, on the 20th local time, the Palestinian Health Bureau issued a statement saying that the Israeli drone attack on the West Bank refugee camp on the 19th has killed 13 Palestinians, including 5 children.

On the 19th, the Palestinian Health Bureau issued a statement saying that the Israeli army clashed with Palestinians and exchanged fire when carrying out a search and arrest operation in the refugee camp near the West Bank city of Tulkalm on the same day, and the Israeli army used drones to bombard in the conflict, resulting in many Palestinian deaths and injuries.

According to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces, Israeli military personnel were shot at and improvised explosive devices were thrown at them during the arrest of wanted Palestinians in refugee camps on the same day, injuring 10 Israeli officers, one of whom was seriously injured. The Israeli military statement also said that the Israeli drone attack was carried out after the Israeli military discovered the existence of armed groups in the area.

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