US Struggling to Counter Iran? Trump Deploys Third Aircraft Carrier to the Middle East

The United States is expected to deploy a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East. This was reported by Fox News, and also carried by Times of Israel, on Saturday.

“USS George H.W. Bush has completed predeployment training on Thursday,” the United States Navy said, quoted on Sunday (8 March 2026).

“The carrier strike group, its escort ships, and the air wing have completed the joint unit training that all carrier strike groups must undergo before certification for national deployment,” the United States Naval Institute said.

Fox News also reported another carrier strike group. The United States currently has 11 active aircraft carriers.

Earlier, the United States had already dispatched two carriers to the Middle East. USS Gerald R. Ford was seen moving through the Suez Canal on Thursday and is now in the Red Sea, while USS Abraham Lincoln remains stationed in the Arabian Sea for strikes against Iran in the midst of the war.

The United States, together with Israel, has been striking Iran since 28 February. This has killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

However, Iran has retaliated by striking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as a number of US military bases in the Middle East. Iran itself has used Shahed drones against Iran, where a Washington Post report says Russian intelligence also assists Tehran.