NBC Confirms U.S. Deployment of Additional Aircraft Carrier and Warships to Middle East
The U.S. is rapidly deploying the USS Nimitz and BMD-capable warships to the Middle East, joining the USS Carl Vinson, amid rising Israel-Iran tensions, NBC News reports. A planned Vietnam port stop was canceled to accelerate the deployment.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The United States is reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East to enhance its "defensive posture," Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth said Monday, as arch-rivals Iran and Israel ramp up their deadly conflict.
"Over the weekend, I directed the deployment of additional capabilities to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility," Hegseth posted on X. "Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region."
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) June 16, 2025
The United States is accelerating the deployment of an additional aircraft carrier and accompanying naval vessels to the Middle East, as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate, according to a report by NBC News.
Citing two U.S. officials, NBC News reported that the USS Nimitz and its supporting ships, currently stationed in Asia, are being dispatched to the Middle East "without delay." The strike group will join the USS Carl Vinson, which is already operating in the region and is nearing the seventh month of its deployment.
According to one U.S. official, the USS Nimitz is expected to arrive in the Middle East within the next week. This move will temporarily place two U.S. carrier strike groups in the region for at least the next month, until the USS Carl Vinson completes its mission and returns home later this summer.
NBC News noted that the Nimitz was originally scheduled to deploy to the Middle East even before the current conflict between Israel and Iran intensified. However, U.S. Navy officials have now canceled a previously planned port visit to Vietnam to expedite the vessel's arrival in the region.
In addition to the aircraft carrier, other naval vessels—including Navy destroyers—are also being sent to the area. These ships, currently part of the U.S. European Command, are equipped with ballistic missile defense (BMD) capabilities and will be used to bolster the protection of both Israeli and American assets.
NBC News quoted a U.S. official as saying, "In coming days, you’ll see more ships with ballistic missile defense capabilities join them."
The report underscores Washington’s strategic commitment to reinforcing its military presence in the region amid ongoing security challenges.
