The Pentagon’s unusual decision to keep two Navy aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East for the past several weeks has now come to an end, with the USS Theodore Roosevelt en route back to the U.S., according to American officials.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had previously directed the Roosevelt to extend its mission briefly, staying in the area until the USS Abraham Lincoln could arrive sooner. The Biden administration had bolstered the U.S. military’s presence in the region to help protect Israel from potential threats posed by Iran and its allied forces, as well as to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel.
Military leaders in the Middle East have consistently maintained that having a U.S. aircraft carrier, along with its accompanying fleet, provides a strong deterrent, especially against Iran. Since the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza began following the October 7 attack by the terror group, there has been a consistent carrier presence in the region, with occasional periods where both carriers were deployed simultaneously.
However, prior to the events of last fall, the U.S. had not maintained such a large naval presence in the region for several years.
{Matzav.com Israel}
