Newsletters
The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East to take over from the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been stationed in the region for an extended deployment, as tensions between the United States and Iran continue, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM said in a post on its X account that the George Washington Carrier Strike Group arrived in its new area of operation on Wednesday and has begun activities in the Middle East as part of a scheduled deployment. The command stated the strike group "arrived in the CENTCOM operations area yesterday" before beginning its planned mission in the region.
CENTCOM also released a photograph showing the carrier passing through the Persian Gulf, with fighter jets visible on its deck. A separate image released by the U.S. Navy showed sailors working on the flight deck of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) on Aug. 20 as the carrier transited the Arabian Sea.
The deployment of the George Washington comes after the Pentagon decided to send the carrier to the region following discussions about the psychological toll on personnel aboard the Abraham Lincoln, which had been on continuous deployment for approximately 250 days.
Aircraft carrier strike groups are typically deployed to the Middle East for several months at a time as part of the U.S. military's regional presence, with rotations intended in part to manage extended strain on crews. The handover comes amid a period of heightened friction between Washington and Tehran.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
3 min read
1 min read
