US nuclear strike sub “Newport News” enters Mediterranean

The USS Newport News nuclear submarine that entered Mediterranean waters Saturday is armed with a variety of cruise missiles for sea and ground targets. The US naval and air buildup continues against the Russian armada of 25 warships which have assembled off the Syrian coast and launched a major eight-day exercise on Saturday. The US sub carries MARK 48 torpedoes designed to sink large vessels, Harpoon anti-ship and ground cruise missiles, and Tomahawk cruise missiles for ground attack. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the US Navy has additionally deployed to the Persian Gulf the USS Sullivans destroyer with 56 Tomahawks on board, as well as positioning B-1B strategic bombers carrying air-to-ground AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles at the Qatari Al Udeid Air Base.