The command overseeing US forces in the Middle East just got a third aircraft carrier — and a lot more firepower

• US Central Command announced that a third aircraft carrier has arrived in its area of ​​responsibility.

• The command that oversees US forces in the Middle East said Bush was in the Indian Ocean.

• The other two carriers are Ford in the Red Sea and Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.

The US military command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, increased its existing firepower by acquiring a third aircraft carrier.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush is currently in the Indian Ocean and within the area of ​​responsibility of US Central Command. The other two carriers in the region are the first of a new class of carriers. USS Gerald. R. Fordand USS Abraham Lincoln.

The arrival of the new carrier in the region comes amid faltering negotiations between Iran and the United States and ongoing challenges in the strategic arena. Strait of Hormuza major oil artery.

CENTCOM, which largely oversees American forces in the Middle East, announced Bush’s arrival in the Indian Ocean on Thursday. The carrier left Virginia in late March and sailed along the coast of Africa. Meanwhile, Ford, the first of its class, returned to the Red Sea after repairs in Croatia and continued its mission. record breaking deployment after a serious fire.

Abraham Lincoln is in the Arabian Sea to support the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade is enforced by more than 10,000 US troops, more than 100 fighter jets, rotary wing aircraft, surveillance aircraft and more than 17 warships. guided missile destroyers.

So far the US has directed more than 30 ships to turn back or return to port. Most of these boats were oil tankers. The US has also banned Iranian-flagged ships that do not comply with the rules. On Sunday, the Navy destroyer USS Spruance changed course. deck gun On M/V Touska, he fired several rounds into the cargo ship’s engine room, disabling it.

Both Lincoln and Ford, the last of which took part in Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela, were in CENTCOM’s area of ​​responsibility during the first weeks of the war. US war against IranIt produces aircraft sorties and supports US strikes against Iranian targets, including command and control, missile and drone systems, and defense industrial base infrastructure.

U.S. Navy aircraft carriers bring the combat power of air wings to any war. They are capable of launching electronic warfare jets, early warning aircraft, and dozens of attack aircraft carrying precision-guided munitions, in many cases supported by the carrier strike group’s missiles and defenses.

The US military began moving warships and aircraft into and around the Middle East before the war began. Epic Operation RageThis marks the largest build-up of American forces in the region since 2003 in efforts to pressure Iran’s leadership.

It remains unclear whether the United States will continue combat operations against Iran. Negotiations broke down this week as Iran resumed attacks on commercial shipping and the United States maintained its blockade of Iranian ports, leaving a fragile ceasefire in doubt. Tehran said the blockade was an obstacle to the continuation of negotiations.

Beyond the blockade, the US military also conducts mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” anyone. Iranian boats laid mines in the throat

Trump also said there was “no time pressure” in negotiations with Iran and “no time frame” for ending the war.

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