The US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which was deployed to the eastern Mediterranean after the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, will return to the United States “in the coming days,” the Navy announced on Monday. Sent to “contribute to our regional deterrence and defense posture,” the carrier will “redeploy to its home port as scheduled to prepare for future deployments,” as stated in the Navy’s official statement.
“The Department of Defense continually evaluates force posture globally and will retain extensive capability both in the Mediterranean and across the Middle East,” the statement added.
The Navy highlighted its collaboration with allies and partners to bolster maritime security in the region, emphasizing that the Defense Department will continue to rely on the presence of its forces, including the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group, to deter any state or non-state actor from escalating the crisis beyond Gaza.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, a new-generation aircraft carrier, is a 100,000-ton nuclear-powered ship equipped with new technologies.
Following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, Washington provided military support to Israel and reinforced its forces in the region, including the USS Gerald R. Ford and other warships.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
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