U.S. moves aircraft carrier, missile defenses toward Middle East amid Iran tensions
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The United States is moving at least one aircraft carrier and additional military assets toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran intensify, according to U.S. officials cited by American media outlets.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and some of its escort warships are heading toward the region from the South China Sea and could arrive in about a week, the New York Times reported, citing two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Other officials told Fox News that at least one carrier is being repositioned, though it was not immediately clear which vessel would ultimately enter the region.
U.S. military assets from air, land and sea are expected to flow into the Middle East in the coming days and weeks as Washington seeks to expand its operational flexibility, officials said.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and some of its escort warships are heading toward the Middle East from the South China Sea, the New York Times reports, amid heightened US tensions with Iran. pic.twitter.com/NLApZ7pEjo
Officials said an array of warplanes — expected to include fighter jets, attack aircraft and refueling planes — would begin deploying to the region soon. The Pentagon is also dispatching air defense equipment, including interceptor missiles, to protect U.S. bases in the Middle East and the Gulf, with particular focus on the al-Udaid airbase in Qatar.
Military sources described the movements as part of a broader process of “setting the force,” aimed at giving President Donald Trump a wider range of military options should he choose to act. One source said any potential action would be “different, more offensive,” depending on how Iran’s leadership responds in the coming days.
U.S. officials said there are currently about 30,000 American troops assigned to the U.S. Central Command region. At present, no U.S. aircraft carriers or carrier strike groups are operating in the CENTCOM area. The current naval presence includes three destroyers and three Littoral Combat Ships.
Three U.S. aircraft carriers are deployed elsewhere, officials said: the USS George Washington in Japan, the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Indo-Pacific region and the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Southern Command area. Two additional carriers near Norfolk and San Diego are not actively deployed.
Iran unrest and strategic calculations
The buildup comes as Iran has been gripped by large anti-government protests for weeks. Iranian authorities have cracked down on demonstrators and shut down internet access for more than a week, according to human rights groups. Thousands of people have been killed, though the exact toll remains unclear.
According to the New York Times, U.S. officials said the surge in weaponry is intended both to deter Iranian authorities from escalating violence against protesters and to provide the president with options should military action be considered. Trump has repeatedly threatened possible military action if the crackdown continues.
Missile defense systems are also expected to be sent to the region to strengthen the protection of U.S. bases and Israel, officials told Fox News, as Washington recalibrates its posture amid a volatile and rapidly evolving situation.
