US Aircraft Carrier Deploys to Gulf

World

November 28th, 12:21pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

FILE PHOTO: Sailors man the rails as aircraft carrier USS Nimitz with Carrier Strike Group 11, and some 7,500 sailors and airmen depart for a 6 month deployment in the Western Pacific from San Diego, California, US, June 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was deployed to the Gulf this week according to the US Department of Defense. The US Navy confirmed on Saturday that the deployment was not related to any specific threat. Also, the CNN reported on Friday that the move came days before Iran's top nuclear scientist was killed. It said the aircraft carrier may remain in the region until January, when President-elect Joe Biden takes office. For her her, spokeswoman for the US Navy’s Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet said: “There were no specific threats that triggered the return of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group." Commander Rebecca Rebarich added that the redeployment was related to a US drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan, Reuters reported. “This action ensures we have sufficient capability available to respond to any threat and to deter any adversary from acting against our troops during the force reduction,” she noted.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2652191/us-aircraft-carrier-deploys-gulf