Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and one other warship to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks to maintain a two-carrier presence near Israel as its war with Hamas grinds on, U.S. officials said.
Quick Read
- Extended Deployment of USS Gerald R. Ford: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier, to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for an extended period. This marks the third extension of the Ford’s deployment.
- Maintaining a Two-Carrier Presence: The purpose of this extension is to maintain a two-carrier presence in the vicinity of Israel as the conflict with Hamas continues.
- Involvement of USS Normandy: Alongside the USS Gerald R. Ford, the USS Normandy cruiser’s deployment has also been extended. This decision has been confirmed by multiple U.S. officials, though it hasn’t been officially made public yet.
- Response to Regional Volatility: These deployments underscore the United States’ concerns about the volatility in the region, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Gaza.
- Rarity of Two Aircraft Carriers in the Region: Having two U.S. aircraft carriers in this region is a rare occurrence in recent years, indicating the seriousness of the current situation.
- Pentagon’s Strategy: The Pentagon has increased its military presence in the region following the attacks by Hamas on October 7. The aim is to deter Iran and other regional actors from expanding the war into a broader regional conflict.
- Increased Hostilities in Iraq and Syria: In recent months, Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have increased their attacks on U.S. military installations, using rockets, drones, and missiles. These attacks are seen as being influenced by the ongoing war in the region.
The Associated press has the story:
Pentagon: US aircraft carrier to remain in the Mediterranean near Israel
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and one other warship to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks to maintain a two-carrier presence near Israel as its war with Hamas grinds on, U.S. officials said.
It would be the third time the Ford’s deployment has been extended, underscoring the continued concerns about volatility in the region during Israel’s war in Gaza. The U.S. has two aircraft carriers in the region, a rarity in recent years.
Multiple U.S. officials confirmed the longer deployments approved this week for the Ford and the USS Normandy cruiser on condition of anonymity because they have not yet been made public. Other ships in the Ford’s strike group had already had their deployments extended.
The Pentagon ramped up its military presence in the region after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks to to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict. In the months since, Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have seized on the war to conduct regular attacks with rockets, drones and missiles on U.S. military installations there.
