The Liberty Daily 
(The Epoch Times)—The U.S. military said on April 24 that three aircraft carriers are currently operating in the Middle East, marking the first deployment of such a large force to the region in more than two decades.
The three aircraft carriers—namely the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS George H.W. Bush—have been deployed to their area of responsibility in the Middle East alongside their carrier air wings, carrying more than 200 aircraft and 15,000 sailors and marines, according to an X post by the U.S. Central Command.
The last time the United States deployed three aircraft carriers to the region was in 2003, during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, according to the command.
The latest deployment comes as the United States has imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports, which has been ongoing since April 13 after the first round of U.S.–Iran talks aimed at ending the war and curbing Tehran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons fell through.
On April 21, President Donald Trump extended a two-week ceasefire with Tehran, saying it would remain in effect until Iranian “leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.” But he noted that the naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a press briefing on April 24 that 34 ships have been turned around since the United States imposed a naval blockade to and from Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman and the open oceans.
Hegseth emphasized that the blockade is both expanding and intensifying.
“Not only is the blockade growing, in fact, a second aircraft carrier will join the blockade in just a few days,” he said, adding that “this growing blockade has also gone global.”
This week, the United States seized two Iranian dark fleet ships in the Indo-Pacific region that had left Iranian ports before the blockade went into effect, according to Hegseth.
Trump wrote on social media on April 23 that he had ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any small Iranian boats that are laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil and gas shipments.
“There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level,” the president said on Truth Social.
Iran last week said it would open the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels during a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but later reinstated “strict military oversight” over the strait due to the resulting U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Jackson Richman contributed to this report.
