US deploys USS George H. W. Bush aircraft carrier to Middle East

The USS George H.W. Bush, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has set sail for the Middle East alongside its accompanying warships, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike groups already present in the region, according to US officials. 

This movement could result in the United States maintaining as many as three aircraft carriers in the area for an extended period, although the Navy has declined to provide details regarding future operational plans, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports.

The Bush departed from Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on March 31, as confirmed in an official Navy release, and its journey to the Middle East is expected to take several weeks. Meanwhile, the Lincoln continues its operations in the Arabian Sea, while the Ford remains docked in Croatia, undergoing maintenance, according to two officials familiar with the situation.

This deployment comes amid President Donald Trump’s consideration of additional military measures involving Iran, alongside a broader increase in US military presence in the region. Over the weekend, a Marine expeditionary unit, transported by amphibious warships, also entered Middle Eastern waters, further reinforcing US forces on the ground.

By Jeyhun Aghazada