The US has sent a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials.
The aircraft carrier "George Bush" is on its way to the region, accompanied by warships. The US Navy press service reported that it departed from the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia on March 31. The publication noted that it could reach its destination in a few weeks.
Two officials told reporters that the aircraft carrier will join the "Abraham Lincoln" and "Gerald Ford" carrier strike groups. The first is currently in the Arabian Sea, and the second is in a Croatian port, where it is being repaired.
The newspaper noted that the deployment of the third aircraft carrier comes against the backdrop of the buildup of American forces in the region and US President Donald Trump's consideration of further military action against Iran.
The aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln" arrived in the Middle East in late January 2026. In mid-February, it was announced that a second group of aircraft carriers was being deployed to the region. On March 31, Reuters reported that troops from the US 82nd Airborne Division had begun arriving in the Middle East. A few days earlier, the US Central Command announced the arrival of the amphibious assault ship “Tripoli“, carrying 3,500 sailors and marines.