Washington, Feb 13 (.) The US Navy aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and its ships stationed in the Caribbean Sea will be sent to the Middle East, The New York Times newspaper reported, citing sources in the US administration.
The ship’s crew was informed of the decision on Thursday.
The Ford strike group will join the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the Persian Gulf as part of President Trump’s resurgent pressure campaign against Iran’s leaders. Trump had indicated earlier this week that he wanted to send a second carrier to the region, but neither he nor the Navy had identified the vessel.
On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon had instructed a second aircraft carrier strike group to prepare for deployment to the Middle East amid tensions in the region. However, the carrier was not specified.
The ship’s crew was informed of the decision on Thursday, according to sources. The new order provides for its joining the strike group of aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf, the report said on Thursday.
Combat aircraft of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford in early January participated in the attack on Caracas, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the report added. The current deployment of the strike group has already been extended once, and its sailors expected to return home in early March, it said.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that if Iran fails to conclude a deal, Washington will move to the “phase two” of actions, which will be “very tough” for Tehran.
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