The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group, which was moved to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea following the Oct. 7 invasion of Israel by Hamas-led terrorists, will return home to Norfolk, Virginia, US military officials said Monday.
The strike group included the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt.
US 6th Fleet officials said in the coming days, the fleet will be redeployed to its home port as scheduled, where it will be ready for future deployments.
The Defense Department will continue to assess force posture globally and maintain an extensive presence in the Middle East and Mediterranean, the official added.
Ships that will remain in the area include the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, additional cruisers and destroyers in both the Middle East and the Mediterranean and the recent arrival of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the Ferry-class dock landing ship Harpers Hall of the USS Carter in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The Bataan and Carter stations will join the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), which is being regrouped in the region as the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
Posted by Gerald R Ford. Carrier Strike Group sails in formation in the Mediterranean Sea on Dec 31, 2023. MC2 Nolan Pennington
The ARG, officials said, consists of three ships and about 2,000 Marines.
Ford was deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean so it could be within striking distance of Israel following the October 7 attack by Hamas.
The carrier remained in the Mediterranean while ships accompanying it sailed into the Red Sea and repeatedly intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and struck drones fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The carriers Ford and Eisenhower are both in the region out of concern that the conflict between Israel and Hamas will spread.
A military presence will remain in the region as Houthi rebels continue their offensive.
The carrier remained in the Mediterranean while ships accompanying it sailed into the Red Sea and repeatedly intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and struck drones fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen. MC3 Maxwell Orlosky The carrier remained in the Mediterranean while ships accompanying it sailed into the Red Sea and repeatedly intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and struck drones fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen. @USNavyEurope
Keep up with the news on the Israel-Hamas war and the surge in global antisemitism with The Post’s Israel War Updates, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
On Saturday, the US military shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired at the Maersk container ship in the Red Sea after the vessel was hit by a missile.
Two Navy destroyers responded to the call for help, and the Danish vessel was reported seaworthy, and no injuries were reported, according to US Central Command.
A few hours later, four Houthi boats opened fire on the same ship and attempted to board it.
US troops aboard two helicopters responded to the distress call and were also fired upon before they sank three Houthi ships and killed the crew. A fourth boat fled the area.
The strike group included the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, eight squadrons of attack and support aircraft, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt. MC3 Maxwell Orlosky
No damage to US personnel or equipment was reported.
Attacks on commercial ships have caused several companies to suspend sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Gulf of Aden to the southern Red Sea and then the Suez Canal.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
