US Navy Destroyer Docks at Israel’s Eilat Port Amid Rising Iran Tensions

US Navy Destroyer Docks at Israel’s Eilat Port Amid Rising Iran Tensions

A United States Navy destroyer has docked at the Israeli port city of Eilat, as tensions escalate between Washington and Tehran, Israel’s Ynet news website reported on Friday, citing the military.

According to the report, the destroyer’s arrival at the southern port on the Gulf of Aqaba — near Israel’s borders with Egypt and Jordan — was pre-planned and forms part of ongoing military cooperation between the United States and Israel. Neither the US Navy nor the Israeli military immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

The deployment comes at a sensitive moment, with US President Donald Trump signalling openness to talks with Iran even as Washington continues to move additional military assets into the Middle East. A US defence official told Reuters that operational details could not be disclosed for security reasons, stressing that the safety of American service members remains the top priority.

The docking follows a series of strong statements from Washington. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the US military is prepared to carry out whatever course of action President Trump decides. Trump has warned Iran to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme or face significantly harsher US action, while Tehran has threatened retaliation against the United States, Israel and their allies.

Trump has also claimed that the US has an “armada” heading towards Iran, though he added that he hopes military force will not ultimately be required.