US Navy deploys nuclear-powered submarine in the Middle East

The U.S. Navy said on Saturday a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine was operating in the Middle East in support of the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet.

FILE PHOTO: The guided missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) pulls into the Bay of Naples, Italy in this file photo taken in the Mediterranean Sea on March 4, 2011 and released to Reuters on March 19, 2011 REUTERS/Daniel Viramontes/U.S. Navy photo/Handout

(Reuters) -The U.S. Navy said on Saturday a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine was operating in the Middle East in support of the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet.

The USS Florida entered the region on Thursday and began transiting the Suez Canal on Friday, Commander Timothy Hawkins said in a statement.

"It is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet to help ensure regional maritime security and stability," Hawkins said.

(Reporting By Lisa Barrington; Editing by William Mallard)