Washington, 15 August– The US Navy’s aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun moving toward the Middle East from the Indo-Pacific, according to the US Navy and a US official cited by the Associated Press (AP).
The development comes after concerns emerged over the mental health of personnel and supply-related challenges aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for an extended period.
The AP reported that prolonged deployment of US aircraft carriers during the war with Iran has raised concerns about the impact on service members who have spent long periods away from their families. Extended missions have also placed additional pressure on ships and their equipment.
According to the US Navy, the USS George Washington left the port of Da Nang in Vietnam last week. The carrier was subsequently seen transiting the Singapore Strait alongside a cruiser and a destroyer.
A US Navy official told AP that the USS George Washington is currently in the Strait of Malacca, a key waterway connecting the Pacific and Indian oceans.
The carrier’s movement means there will be no US aircraft carrier in the Pacific waters for an unspecified period, AP reported.
The deployment underscores the US military’s continuing adjustments to its naval presence amid heightened tensions and operational demands linked to the conflict involving Iran.
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