It has been reported that a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and other forces are expected to arrive in the Middle East in the coming days.
Following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that warships were moving toward Iran “as a precaution,” Western media, citing sources within the U.S. administration, reported that a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group would reach the Middle East in the coming days.
Experts speaking to the media noted that the United States often increases the number of troops in the Middle East during periods of rising regional tensions. It was also stated that the redeployment of forces could be entirely defensive in nature.
A Chinese satellite detected activities of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the South China Sea on January 14. This report came after media coverage suggesting that the vessel was being redeployed from Asia to the Middle East. Earlier, it had been reported that a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group had been deployed from the South China Sea to the area of responsibility of U.S. Central Command, which includes the Middle East. This deployment was said to be linked to rising tensions between the Trump administration and Iran.