0
US sends third aircraft carrier toward Middle East, officials say
April 18, 2026
Posted 2 hours ago by
US sends third aircraft carrier toward Middle East, officials say The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald Ford, has entered Middle East waters again, Associated Press reported, quoting two defence officials. The carrier transited the Suez Canal with the destroyers USS Mahan and USS Winston Churchill and is now operating in the Red Sea, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations.
The Ford had been in the eastern Mediterranean and returned to port for repairs after a fire in a laundry space. The carrier’s arrival adds to the US naval presence in the region, with the USS Abraham Lincoln already in the Arabian Sea. The USS George Bush is also heading toward the area and is currently off the coast of South Africa, one official said. The Ford recently set a record for the longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam War, according to the officials. US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, arrives in Split, Croatia, on 28 March 2026. Sipa USA via Reuters
Middle East Eye
Coverage and analysis from Qatar. All insights are generated by our AI narrative analysis engine.