Trump scrambles another aircraft carrier as Iran war escalates

The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier is reportedly deploying to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility amidst ongoing operations against Iran.

According to CBS News, citing multiple unnamed U.S. and defense officials, the Bush Carrier Strike Group, which completed combat readiness training earlier this month, is expected to relieve the USS Gerald R. Ford and potentially join combat operations against Iran once it arrives in theater.

This deployment marks the first time in years that three nuclear-powered aircraft carriers — the USS Bush, USS Abraham Lincoln, and USS Gerald R. Ford — will operate simultaneously within range of Iran.

This will bring together more than 30 warships and hundreds of carrier-based aircraft to the region, as Washington signals its readiness for a longer campaign under Operation Epic Fury.

USS George H.W. Bush carrier movements

The USS Ross, a guided missile destroyer assigned to the Bush strike group, deployed from Norfolk, Virginia, on Wednesday. In addition, the USS Donald Cook and USS Mason, also guided missile destroyers, left Florida this week to join operations.

Also Read: Americans Injured, Aircraft Damaged in Fresh Iranian Attack on Foreign Base

The Bush Carrier Strike Group, last deployed in 2022, returned to Norfolk in August 2023 and has now been certified for major combat operations.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most advanced carrier, suffered a fire earlier this month that damaged living quarters and ventilation systems. On March 23, it docked in Souda Bay, Crete, for repairs expected to last at least a week.

The Bush is temporarily assuming operational duties to maintain strike tempo. The Ford had previously been deployed to the Caribbean for operations against Venezuela before being redirected to the Middle East earlier this year.

Escalating Iran war

The reported deployment comes as the war in Iran intensifies. On Friday, March 27, Iranian missiles struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, injuring at least ten American troops, two of them seriously, according to CBS News.

Several U.S. refueling aircraft and drones were damaged in the attack by Tehran. More than 300 American service members have been wounded since the war began, most of whom have returned to duty.

Israel also reported intercepting missiles fired from Iran, with air raid sirens sounding in Jerusalem and explosions heard in Jericho. One man was killed in Tel Aviv, and two others were injured, according to Israeli emergency services.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, vowed retaliation against Israel after strikes on steel factories, a power plant, and civilian nuclear sites.

Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mocked U.S. military capabilities, questioning Washington’s ability to protect troops even at bases in the region.

Strain on U.S. Arsenal

The U.S. has already used more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles in the conflict, according to CBS News. That figure is nearly nine times the number procured annually, raising concerns about the sustainability of the campaign.

Officials warn that replenishment of stockpiles is lagging behind usage, underscoring the strain of prolonged operations.

Also Read: Iran Prepares “Deadly Trap” for U.S. Troops as Kharg Island Tensions Spike

President Donald Trump earlier on Friday addressed the conflict at a Saudi-backed investment conference in Miami. He referred to the Strait of Hormuz as the “Strait of Trump” before correcting himself, drawing laughter from the audience.

“We’re negotiating now, it would be great if they could do something, but they have to open up the Strait of Trump, I mean Hormuz,” Trump told the crowd.

He also speculated about Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since being injured in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in February.

“Their leaders are dead. Their supreme leader is no longer supreme. And the son is either dead or in very bad shape.”

Trump claimed Tehran was “on the run” and “wants to make a deal,” portraying the U.S. military campaign as having decimated Iran’s capabilities. He emphasized that the U.S. presence in the region, now bolstered by three carriers, was a sign of American resolve.

Media reports on Thursday indicated that the Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to provide expanded military options as the president weighs possible peace talks with Tehran.