Immediately following HAMAS’s brutal attack on Israel, the USS GERALD R. FORD Carrier Strike Group was ordered to the eastern Mediterranean to contribute to our regional deterrence and defense posture. In the coming days, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group will redeploy to its home port as scheduled to prepare for future deployments.
The Department of Defense continually evaluates force posture globally and will retain extensive capability both in the Mediterranean and across the Middle East. This includes the current deployment of the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East, the deployment of additional cruisers and destroyers in the Mediterranean and Middle East, and the recent arrival of the Wasp-class amphibious ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The USS Bataan and USS Carter Hall join the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and, with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), these ships have re-aggregated as the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the eastern Mediterranean. The ARG/MEU consists of three ships and approximately 2,000 Marines that provide sea-based expeditionary forces capable of supporting a wide range of missions.
Also, we are collaborating with Allies and partners to bolster maritime security in the region. DoD will continue to leverage its collective force posture in the region to deter any state or non-state actor from escalating this crisis beyond Gaza. And we continue to extend our appreciation to the U.S. service members still abroad, and their families and loved ones at home, in support of our steadfast commitment to global security.
(C6f.navy.mil)
1 Comment