US Deploys Aircraft Carrier — USS Theodore Roosevelt — On Iran’s Doorstep Amid Israel-Hezbollah Tensions – Reports

By
Ashish Dangwal
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As the possibility of a conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah increases, the United States has strategically deployed a carrier strike group near Iran in the Persian Gulf.

The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is currently operating in the region. The CSG, comprising the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and a full complement of three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, has been visually confirmed in the Persian Gulf.

This information was revealed by OSNIT @MT_Anderson, a user on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

On July 28, satellite images revealed that Carrier Strike Group Nine (CSG-9) and its flagship, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), were positioned 140 km northeast of Manama, Bahrain. The Theodore Roosevelt CSG transitioned from the Indo-Pacific and entered the US 5th Fleet area of operations on July 12.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), aptly nicknamed “The Big Stick”, has a Nimitz-class carrier, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69).

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Visual confirmation via Sentinel 2 that CSG 9 is operating in the Persian Gulf. Credits: MT Anderson

Several open-source intelligence accounts also highlighted the strategic importance of the aircraft carrier now operating in the Persian Gulf.

If needed, the aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 11 aboard the Roosevelt, including the F/A-18E “Super Hornet” multirole strike aircraft from VFA-25 “Fist of the Fleet”, could assist with operations over Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.

The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is stationed in the Mediterranean, adding to the US military presence in the region. The group, which includes the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, amphibious transport dock USS New York, and dock landing ship USS Oak Hill, arrived at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, on July 8.

The ARG deployed from the US East Coast on June 1 and conducted joint operations with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the British Royal Navy in the eastern Mediterranean on July 2.

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Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder previously explained that the Wasp ARG’s presence serves as a deterrent and enhances the US military’s ability to respond to various contingencies.

The ARG, which includes over 4,500 sailors and Marines, supports a range of aircraft, including the MV-22 Osprey, AV-8B Harrier, and F-35B Lightning II.

From its position in the eastern Mediterranean, the Wasp ARG and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) are poised to conduct a variety of missions, ranging from crisis response to limited contingency operations.

USS Theodore Roosevelt

According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the deployment of the USS Theodore Roosevelt to the Middle East is intended to prevent hostilities, bolster regional stability, and guarantee the uninterrupted movement of commerce in the area.

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This marks the first time since 2021, when the US concluded its military withdrawal from Afghanistan, that an Indo-Pacific-based US Navy aircraft carrier has been dispatched to the Middle East.

The Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most decorated warships of the post-Cold War era. Its accolades include a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, three Navy Unit Commendations, five Battle Efficiency Awards (Battle “E”), two National Defense Service Medals, two Security Excellence Awards, and a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Currently deployed in the Red Sea, the Theodore Roosevelt aims to demonstrate American strength and act as a deterrent to potential adversaries.

The appearance of the aircraft carrier near Iran coincides with a deadly Hezbollah rocket attack on July 27, which struck a soccer field in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights, killing at least 12 people, mostly children and young adults aged 10 to 20 years. The incident was the deadliest assault on Israel since the October 7 massacre that initiated its conflict with Hamas.

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Meanwhile, “The Big Stick,” CVN-71 boasts a distinguished service record, having played pivotal roles in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt was commissioned just two years later and deployed for Operation Desert Shield, arriving in the Persian Gulf in January 1991.

During Operation Desert Storm, which commenced shortly after its arrival, the carrier participated in extensive combat operations. Pilots from the Roosevelt executed around 4,000 sorties, dropping more than 4.8 million pounds of ordnance, the highest among carriers in the conflict.

Aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt underway in 1999 in the Atlantic. Pentagon

Following Desert Storm, the Roosevelt’s air wing supported Kurdish forces in Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort and enforced the no-fly zone over Bosnia in Operation Deny Flight.

After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the USS Theodore Roosevelt embarked on its seventh deployment, joining the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in the North Arabian Sea.

During Operation Enduring Freedom, it launched attacks against al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan, spending an unprecedented 160 consecutive days at sea, setting a new record for US carriers since World War II.

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