Three US carriers now operating in Middle East amid Iran ceasefire

The USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, bringing the number of U.S. aircraft carriers operating in the Middle East to three during a more than two-week ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran, the Korea Times reported.

The simultaneous deployment of three U.S. carriers — each traveling with its own substantial group of supporting warships — represents an unusual concentration of naval firepower as the pause in the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran extends past two weeks. The Korea Times' reporting on the deployment carries particular resonance for Orange County's large Korean-American community, which closely follows Korean-language coverage of U.S. military posture in the region.

U.S. Central Command said the Bush was sailing "in the Indian Ocean in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 23," in a post on X. The Korea Times reported the carrier has joined the USS Gerald R. Ford, operating in the Red Sea, and the USS Abraham Lincoln, also deployed in the region — bringing the total carrier presence to three.

Each aircraft carrier operates alongside a substantial group of supporting warships, amplifying the reach of each battle group well beyond a single hull.

The USS Gerald R. Ford had been sidelined after a laundry fire broke out on March 12, and the vessel underwent repairs in Croatia before returning to operations. The Korea Times reported the Ford has been at sea for approximately 10 months.

The arrival of a third carrier comes during a ceasefire that has paused the U.S.-Israeli air campaign against Iran, which was first launched in late February, the Korea Times reported. The ceasefire has held for more than two weeks.

The Korea Times reported all three carriers remain in the region as of April 23. The USS Gerald R. Ford, now roughly 10 months into its deployment, continues operations in the Red Sea.