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The Guardian World1 min read
US has three aircraft carriers in the Middle East for first time since 2003
TL;DR
The US has deployed three aircraft carriers in the Middle East for the first time since 2003, including the USS George HW Bush. This military presence comprises 12 ships, over 200 aircraft, and 15,000 personnel.
Key points
- Three US aircraft carriers are in the Middle East for the first time since 2003
- USS George HW Bush has arrived, joining USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford
- The deployment includes 12 ships, over 200 aircraft, and 15,000 soldiers
Mentioned in this story
US militaryMiddle East
USS George HW BushUSS Abraham LincolnUSS Gerald R Ford
The United States has three aircraft carriers in the Middle East for the first time in 23 years with the arrival of the USS George HW Bush, the US military has said, amid a fragile ceasefire with Iran.
The Middle East-based Central Command (CENTCOM) of the US military said on Friday that the carriers include 12 accompanying ships, more than 200 aircraft, and 15,000 soldiers.
“For the first time in decades, three aircraft carriers are operating in the Middle East at the same time,” CENTCOM said.
The last time the US amassed that amount of military assets in the region’s waters was in the lead up to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The other two US aircraft carriers in the region are USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford, which is the largest in the world.
The show of force signals that the US is preparing to return to fighting should the fragile ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran unravel.
Diplomacy between the two countries has been in limbo, with Iran setting the lifting of the US naval blockade against its ports as a condition for resuming the talks.
US President Donald Trump announced extending the truce on Wednesday, but he said the naval siege would persist.
For its part, Iran has reblocked the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US blockade after declaring the waterway completely open last week when the regional ceasefire was extended to Lebanon.
Trump has not set a deadline for the extended ceasefire and suggested that he is comfortable with the status quo, which he argues is depleting the Iranian economy at a low cost for the US.
“I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t,” he wrote in a social media post on Thursday.
The US president was later asked how long he would be willing to wait before receiving a proposed deal from Iran. He said: “Don’t rush me.”
Iran has described the blockade – which has seen US forces seize at least two Iranian oil ships – as an “act of war”.
Iranian forces have also captured foreign commercial ships in the Hormuz Strait, accusing them of violating maritime regulations.
With negotiations on hold, Trump has shown no signs of willingness to lift the siege in order to facilitate talks.
On Friday, the US military said it has “redirected” 34 vessels in the region. “The blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports continues,” CENTCOM said.
Q&A
Why are three US aircraft carriers in the Middle East now?
The deployment is part of a significant military presence amid a fragile ceasefire with Iran.
What aircraft carriers are currently in the Middle East?
The three aircraft carriers are USS George HW Bush, USS Abraham Lincoln, and USS Gerald R Ford.
When was the last time the US had three aircraft carriers in the Middle East?
The last occurrence was in 2003, prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq.
