The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East on Sunday, joining two other US carriers already operating in the region and taking the American naval presence to three carrier strike groups.
Axios reporter Barak Ravid shared the development on X, citing a US official.
“The USS Roosevelt aircraft carrier has arrived in the U.S. military central command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility earlier on Sunday, a U.S. official tells me . The U.S. military now has three air craft carrier strike groups in CENTCOM”, Ravid tweeted on X.
A US Navy carrier strike group consists of fighter aircraft, escort vessels and support ships, creating a significant military force with extensive operational capabilities.
Roosevelt joins two deployed US carriers
{{/usCountry}}A US Navy carrier strike group consists of fighter aircraft, escort vessels and support ships, creating a significant military force with extensive operational capabilities.
Roosevelt joins two deployed US carriers
{{/usCountry}}According to the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes, the USS Theodore Roosevelt left Singapore on November 8 and began its journey towards the Middle East via the Strait of Malacca.
The carrier strike group comprises Carrier Air Wing 11, the cruiser USS Chosin and two destroyers, USS Paul Hamilton and USS Decatur. More than 5,000 military personnel are part of the deployment.
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The other two American carriers currently operating in the region are the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington, which arrived in the Middle East in April and August, respectively.
Iran-US tensions escalate over Bahrain strikes
The deployment comes amid heightened tensions with Iran, which claimed over the weekend that it had struck US assets in Bahrain. The announcement followed another claim by Tehran on Friday that it had targeted a US early-warning radar system at the same location.
However, the US military rejected the allegation of damage to the radar installation, saying it had intercepted two Iranian drones heading towards Bahrain.
The Pentagon and US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for overseeing American military operations in the Middle East, have yet to officially confirm the carrier’s deployment timeline.
Trump says Iran deal no longer needed
The latest developments unfold against a backdrop of growing uncertainty surrounding diplomatic relations between the US and Iran.
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On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said he no longer considered an agreement with Tehran necessary. He also instructed Vice-President JD Vance, who had been closely involved in negotiations, to shift his attention towards domestic matters.