US aircraft carrier “USS Theodore Roosevelt” departs Middle East Following extended deployment

The Pentagon’s unusual decision to deploy two Navy aircraft carriers to the Middle East over recent weeks has now concluded, with the USS Theodore Roosevelt on its way home.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had instructed Roosevelt to extend its deployment briefly and remain in the region, while the USS Abraham Lincoln was expedited to the area, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Biden administration had increased the US military presence there to assist in defending Israel from potential attacks by Iran and its allies, as well as to protect US forces.

Notably, US commanders in the Middle East have long maintained that having a US aircraft carrier and its accompanying warships in the region serves as a strong deterrent, particularly against Iran. Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza last autumn, there has been a continuous presence of carriers in and around the region, occasionally overlapping to deploy two carriers simultaneously.

Before last autumn, it had been years since the US had dedicated such significant naval resources to the region.

The decision to return the Roosevelt comes as the Gaza conflict extends into its 11th month, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, and international attempts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered, with both sides accusing each other of making unacceptable demands.