The buildup reflects U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel could escalate into a more dangerous regional conflict.
By Tara Copp, AP
“The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group will depart from Norfolk, Va., in the coming week in line with its standard deployment schedule."
Defense analysts say the U.S. may face challenges in extracting American forces from the region in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says he's ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel.
By Tara Copp, AP
The guided-missile destroyer, part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, deployed in May.
The Ford, which was originally supposed to deploy in 2018, completed a brief, inaugural deployment last year.
The carrier will conduct a lengthier deployment in 2023.
The carrier, which got underway on Oct. 4, and its strike group focused on air defense, anti-subsurface warfare, and distributed maritime operations.
With new technology and much more space on the Ford's flight deck, Carrier Air Wing 8 is able to generate sorties at a much higher clip.
The short deployment will focus on interoperability and innovation, ahead of a more standard deployment next year, Navy leaders say.
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