US Reportedly Sending Third Aircraft Carrier Strike Group to Middle East – RedState

The United States has significant naval firepower in the Middle East as the Iranian conflict rages. We have the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman region, and the USS Gerald R. Ford is in the Red Sea.

We saw the incredible firepower these groups are capable of during Operation Epic Fury, which virtually decapitated the entire murderous regime of the Islamic Republic. (They didn’t do it alone, of course; the Israelis worked in concert with America in their Operation Roaring Lion, and some of our strikes came from long-range bombers and American bases in the region.)

This was already the largest naval force we’ve had in the region in decades, and it could now become even larger with the USS George HW Bush Group preparing to ship:

NEW: The United States is preparing to send a third aircraft carrier (USS George HW Bush) to the Middle East.

Two aircraft carriers are already there: the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford.

This would simultaneously place three nuclear supercarriers in the region. pic.twitter.com/P01wtPeMv2

– Clash Report (@clashreport) March 7, 2026

Although an exact arrival date has not been revealed, it is estimated that it would take the group 10 to 12 days to sail from Norfolk, Virginia, to the Eastern Mediterranean.

The forces currently in place already constitute the largest U.S. naval deployment in the Middle East since the Iraq War.

The Ford had to go through operational exercises to ensure the group was combat ready, which it has now successfully done:

Bush recently completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), which “brings together all elements of a carrier strike group to operate as a cohesive, multi-domain combat force,” according to the U.S. Navy.

Like the Lincoln, the Bush is a Nimitz-class supercarrier.

The Ford Group, meanwhile, arrived in the Red Sea on Saturday and is ready to confront the Yemeni terrorist group, the Houthis, if it follows through on its threats to join the conflict in support of Iran and attack shipping in the crucial shipping lane, the Strait of Hormuz.

On Thursday, the Ford Carrier Strike Group, officially known as Carrier Strike Group 12, crossed the Suez Canal after docking in Haifa and is now positioned in the Red Sea, apparently ready to attack or defend should the Houthis attempt to join the ongoing war with Iran.

It entered the Mediterranean after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, a movement reported by several media outlets following American naval deployments.

MORE: Trump: Iranian conflict is “very complete, almost complete” much sooner than expected

Axis’ last hope: Houthis now ready to strike US and Israel ‘at any time’

As you can see at the link above, RedState’s Ward Clark titled his excellent article: “The Houthis are now ready to strike the United States and Israel ‘at any time.’

Perhaps with the Ford transporter on the scene, we could write: “The Houthis are now ready to be struck by the United States and Israel ‘at any time.’

Military analyst Ian Ellis Jones says this is the current makeup of our naval forces; of course, only the Pentagon knows for sure:

The US Navy at War | Carrier Update:

– George HW Bush CSG has completed its preparations and is deploying soon to join the war against Iran, according to @LucasFoxNews
– Gerald R. Ford CSG integrated into US 5th Fleet/CENTCOM AOR (DVIDS)
– Abraham Lincoln CSG conducting combat operations 24/7 (DOW/PAO) pic.twitter.com/nxWL4vOCVk

– Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) March 8, 2026

It is unclear whether the USS Gerald Ford will deploy in April or May, as its deployment is already extended by 11 months.

However, for a while at least, if all goes as planned, we will have three nuclear-powered supercarriers in the region, each leading a full Carrier Strike Group (CSG). My advice to the mullahs who are still breathing: this may be the ideal time to surrender.

Editor’s note: For decades, past presidents have done nothing but talk. Now, Donald Trump eliminates the Iranian threat once and for all.

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