The United States is sending an additional aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, potentially bringing the total number of carriers in the region to three, according to officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.
The USS George H.W. Bush, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, departed Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Tuesday, accompanied by its supporting warships.
The deployment is expected to take several weeks before the strike group arrives in the region.
The move comes as President Donald Trump weighs further military options concerning Iran, and as U.S. forces continue to build up their presence across the Middle East. Currently, the USS Abraham Lincoln is operating in the Arabian Sea, while the USS Gerald R. Ford is docked in Croatia for repairs, according to U.S. officials.
If all three carriers are stationed in or near the region, it would represent a significant increase in U.S. naval presence, signalling both heightened military readiness and a clear demonstration of force amid escalating tensions. Officials indicated that the expanded deployment could remain in place for the foreseeable future, though the Navy declined to comment on specific operational plans.
The broader buildup also includes a Marine expeditionary unit aboard amphibious warships that entered Middle Eastern waters over the weekend, further strengthening U.S. capabilities and rapid-response potential in the region.
Analysts say the deployment underlines Washington’s determination to maintain a robust presence in the region, even as diplomatic efforts continue to manage the crisis.
