The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford steams alongside USNS Laramie (T-AO-203) during a fueling-at-sea in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, as a scheduled deployment in the U.S Naval Forces Europe area of operations, deployed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S, allied, and partners interests, in this photo taken on October, 11, 2023 and released by U.S. Navy on October 14, 2023. U.S Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 6th Fleet / Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
The U.S. Navy announced on Monday that the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier will conclude its deployment to the eastern Mediterranean and return to its home port in Virginia. The carrier was initially deployed in support of Israel following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants. As the Navy’s newest carrier, the nuclear-powered Ford, with over 4,000 personnel and eight squadrons of aircraft, served as a symbolic demonstration of American support by moving closer to Israel after the Hamas attack.
The attack by Hamas triggered a conflict in Gaza, resulting in extensive destruction, thousands of casualties, and a humanitarian crisis for the 2.3 million people in the territory. Israel claims that the Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, while Palestinian health authorities in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, report nearly 22,000 casualties.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group’s deployment was extended three times by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in the hope that its presence would deter potential threats from Iran and Iran-aligned groups, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon, against Israel. The decision to return the carrier to its home base in Virginia comes amid ongoing concerns about regional security, with U.S. forces facing challenges in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen due to drone and rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias. The Navy emphasized the Department of Defense’s commitment to leveraging its collective force posture in the region to deter any escalation of the crisis beyond Gaza.
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