Last Minute: USA May Withdraw Aircraft Carrier Sent to Israel
USS Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier to Change Mission Instructions Soon
According to two US officials who spoke to ABC News on the condition of anonymity, the mission instructions for the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier will soon change. The largest and newest aircraft carrier in the country’s inventory, along with its accompanying cruisers and attack ships, has been operating in the Eastern Mediterranean region since mid-October. However, the officials stated that the fleet will be leaving the region in the coming days and returning to its original base in Norfolk, Virginia.
The officials also mentioned that despite the departure of the USS Gerald R. Ford, there are still many ships and cruisers in the region to continue providing support to Israel. They confirmed that the support to Tel Aviv will not cease.
As of now, the Pentagon has not released any statement regarding the issue. However, it was stated that the decision to send the aircraft carrier fleet to the Eastern Mediterranean was made in response to the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had instructed the fleet to be ready to provide assistance to Israel in the event of further escalations in the region.
