Washington [US], May 1: The US Navy's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, is expected to leave the Middle East soon, US media reported on Wednesday. It is expected to depart for the United States in the coming days, the Washington Post reported, citing several US officials.
The months-long deployment at sea has taken its toll, the newspaper wrote, and the ship is expected to undergo extensive repairs and maintenance work once back in port.
The move would reduce US military strike capability in the war with Iran, at a time when a ceasefire is in place but a negotiated settlement does not appear imminent.
The US recently bolstered its military presence in the region with the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier. This marked the first time since 2003 that three US aircraft carriers were simultaneously deployed in the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said last week.
Together, the three vessels comprise more than 200 aircraft and 15,000 sailors and marines, CENTCOM said. In addition to the two carriers, the USS Abraham Lincoln had also been deployed towards Iran. The USS Gerald R Ford had previously been operating in the Red Sea, according to the US military.
Source: Qatar Tribune
