US aircraft carrier sets course for Middle East as Israel-Iran conflict intensifies

The US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz departed the South China Sea on June 16 morning, charting a westward course toward the Middle East amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran.

Originally scheduled to make a port call in Danang City, central Vietnam, later this week, the planned visit and its accompanying formal reception set for June 20 were abruptly canceled, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Two sources, including a diplomat, revealed that the US Embassy in Hanoi notified them of the cancellation, attributing it to "an emergent operational requirement." The embassy has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Last week, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group conducted maritime security operations in the South China Sea as part of "the US Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific," according to the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet.

With the Nimitz now redirecting toward the Middle East, the move underscores Washington’s strategic response to the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, as regional tensions continue to surge.

The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) stands as the lead vessel of its eponymous class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, ranking among the largest and most formidable warships ever constructed by the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1975, the Nimitz continues to serve as a cornerstone of American naval dominance. Measuring nearly 333 metres in length and displacing over 100,000 tons, the carrier boasts the capacity to deploy up to 90 combat and support aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, helicopters, and early warning platforms.

Powered by two Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors, the USS Nimitz enjoys virtually unlimited operational range and can achieve speeds exceeding 30 knots (approximately 56 kilometres per hour). The vessel’s complement exceeds 5,000 personnel, comprising roughly 3,200 sailors and 2,480 aircrew members.

Its advanced self-defence suite includes Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile systems, Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) for point defence, as well as integrated electronic warfare and reconnaissance capabilities.

Homeported in Bremerton, Washington, the USS Nimitz frequently serves as the flagship of a carrier strike group, which typically incorporates escort cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. Despite its decades-long service, the ship remains fully operational and combat-ready, sustained through continuous modernization efforts and its pivotal role in projecting US maritime power worldwide.

By Vafa Guliyeva