USS Gerald Ford to deploy to 6th Fleet, moving 3rd carrier group closer to Israel-Iran conflict
By CAITLYN BURCHETT STARS AND STRIPES •
June 18, 2025
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is slated to deploy next week to the 6th Fleet area of operations, moving a third carrier strike group closer to the conflict between Israel and Iran, a U.S. defense official said Wednesday. The deployment has been scheduled for months, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The 6th Fleet area of operations includes waters surrounding Europe and Africa. The USS Carl Vinson and its strike group are already operating in the area of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East. The Vinson operated in the Indo-Pacific from November to late March before being ordered to the Middle East. The USS Nimitz carrier strike group was pulled two days ago from an Indo-Pacific deployment to support U.S. forces in the Middle East amid the ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran.
The Nimitz was making its way through the Singapore Strait early Monday, according to a ship spotter in the area who observed the carrier. The strait is a waterway that connects the South China Sea to the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
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https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-06-18/ford-carrier-europe-iran-israel-18165558.htmlSource - Stars and Stripes
