Crete, MINA – The United States’ most advanced and largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has reportedly been withdrawn from the Middle East combat zone to Souda Bay in Crete, Greece, on Tuesday.
The withdrawal of Washington’s key military asset came after the vessel reportedly experienced a fire incident amid escalating tensions involving Iran and Israel, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday.
The US Navy confirmed that the aircraft carrier requires urgent maintenance and repairs. While the Pentagon claimed the fire originated in a laundry area and was not directly linked to enemy action, the incident occurred as Iran’s military, through the Khatam al-Anbiya command, had threatened to target the USS Gerald R. Ford with missiles in the Red Sea.
Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqar had earlier stated that the presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford posed a direct threat to Iran’s sovereignty.
Read Also: Saudi-Led Coalition Says It Intercepted Houthi Cruise Missile Over Riyadh
The carrier, which had been deployed to provide logistical support for joint US-Israel military operations dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” is viewed as a symbol of Western intervention that must be neutralized. Its withdrawal has fueled speculation about the vulnerability of US naval forces in the face of Tehran’s missile technology.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is the newest class of aircraft carrier, claimed to feature some of the world’s most advanced technology, including an electromagnetic aircraft launch system.
However, its deployment in the Middle East since June last year has exceeded the standard operational duration, nearly setting a record for one of the longest aircraft carrier deployments since the Vietnam War if extended into April.
Geopolitically, the withdrawal of the carrier is seen as exerting psychological pressure on coalition forces in the region. Iran has demonstrated growing military capabilities, particularly through the development of ballistic missiles and suicide drones capable of striking moving targets at sea.
Read Also: Rights Group to Urge ICC to Seek Arrest Warrants for Trump Over Gaza
The fact that this multi-billion-dollar “supercarrier” has had to pull back for repairs at a time of heightened tensions marks a significant point in the regional balance of power.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
Read Also: UN Agencies: 15.4 Million in Sudan Urgently Need Shelter as Funding Falls Short
Mina Indonesia
Mina Arabic
Mina Sport