07.03.2026 08:48
The largest aircraft carrier of the United States, USS Gerald R. Ford, has crossed the Suez Canal and reached the Red Sea. As the U.S. increases its military presence in the Middle East to the highest level in recent years, the number of aircraft carriers in the region has risen to two, alongside USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) operating in the Arabian Sea.
It has been reported that the largest aircraft carrier of the United States, USS Gerald R. Ford, has passed through the Suez Canal and reached the Red Sea. According to the news from the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI), the aircraft carrier was sent to the region due to increasing tensions in the Middle East.
The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) shared photos of the passage of the Ford aircraft carrier and the U.S. destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) through the Suez Canal yesterday.
TWO U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS WILL OPERATE IN THE REGION
In a previous statement from the Pentagon, it was mentioned that a decision was made to deploy the Ford aircraft carrier to the Middle East in mid-February, and its mission is planned to last until May of next year.
Thus, two U.S. aircraft carriers have begun operations in the region. The USS Gerald R. Ford is operating in the Red Sea, while the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) aircraft carrier is active in the Gulf of Oman.
A FIRST FROM THE U.S.
According to open-source analyses, the U.S. has raised its military presence in the Middle East to the highest level in recent years due to the war that started with Iran.
U.S.-ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON IRAN
While negotiations continue between the Tehran and Washington administrations, Israel and the U.S. launched a military attack on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on targets it identified in several regional countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, where U.S. bases are located, in addition to Israel.
In the U.S.-Israel attacks, Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as many high-ranking officials, were killed. Iranian Health Ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpur announced that 926 people lost their lives in the U.S.-Israel attacks. Israel reported that since the mutual attacks with Iran began, 11 people have died, and 502 people, including those who experienced panic attacks, have been injured.