The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is set to return to the United States in the coming days after a record deployment of more than 300 days, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the carrier would depart the Middle East shortly and head to its home port in Virginia, with arrival expected by mid-May.
The deployment, which lasted around 10 months since the ship left Naval Station Norfolk in June last year, marks the longest U.S. naval deployment since the Vietnam War.
During its mission, the carrier took part in operations linked to tensions with Iran and broader regional security efforts, underscoring Washington’s increased military presence in the Middle East.
Two other U.S. aircraft carriers — the USS George H. W. Bush and the USS Abraham Lincoln — will remain deployed in the region.
The USS George H. W. Bush arrived in the area last week, bringing the total number of U.S. carriers in the Middle East to three, a level not seen since 2003 during the early stages of the Iraq War.
Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln has been operating in the region since January amid heightened tensions with Iran.
The return of the Ford signals a partial drawdown of U.S. naval assets while maintaining a significant military presence in the region through the remaining carrier strike groups.
Follow the latest news on Google News
