ALBAWABA - A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119), has arrived at the Red Sea port of Eilat, the Israeli military confirmed Thursday, in a move that comes amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East tied to rising tensions with Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces said the destroyer’s arrival was part of planned routine cooperation with the United States and took place without change to public security directives. According to reports, the docking at Eilat reflects close military coordination between Washington and Jerusalem.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the Delbert D. Black entered the region within the past 48 hours, marking the sixth destroyer now deployed to the Middle East, alongside a U.S. aircraft carrier and three littoral combat ships. This enhanced naval presence forms part of a broader U.S. military posture as Washington weighs possible responses to Tehran.
The deployment follows continued U.S. movements in recent weeks, including the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and additional warships, a signal of heightened readiness as tensions with Iran persist. Military analysts say destroyers such as the Delbert D. Black enhance both defensive deterrence and offensive options for the U.S. in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly warned that a large naval “armada” is heading toward Iran and has kept military options open while also expressing willingness for dialogue. The presence of multiple U.S. destroyers, capable of launching precision strikes and providing air defense, underscores the scale of the U.S. buildup.
The Delbert D. Black is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer equipped with Aegis combat systems, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and anti-air and anti-submarine weapons, and is designed for multi-role operations.
The strategic stationing of this warship comes as Israeli authorities and regional partners continue to monitor developments related to Iran’s behavior and broader Middle East security.
