US military deploys 9,000 troops and third aircraft carrier to Middle East
The United States military has deployed approximately 9,000 service members aboard a fleet of warships to the Middle East, according to an unnamed U.S. official. The escalation comes as President Donald Trump weighs launching new military strikes against Iran following a foiled aircraft attack and ongoing diplomatic standstills over regional waterways.
Third Aircraft Carrier Joins Regional Buildup
The newly dispatched naval contingent includes the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which departed San Diego on Sunday, alongside the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin. The amphibious ready group USS Makin Island—carrying Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha and the dock landing ship USS Anchorage—is steaming toward the region. These arrivals will bring the total U.S. naval presence in the Middle East to more than 20,000 sailors and Marines accompanied by hundreds of aircraft. The USS Theodore Roosevelt will join the USS George H.W. Bush and the USS George Washington, establishing a three-carrier presence not seen in the region since 2003. The USS Washington, which usually operates in the Pacific Ocean, was redeployed to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose crew spent more than 260 days at sea during a demanding deployment.
Trump Threatens Heavy Retaliation Over Flight Attack
The military buildup coincides with mounting tensions surrounding an incident aboard a FlyDubai flight to Israel on Wednesday, in which the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. When asked by reporters at the White House if Iran was connected to the attack, President Trump answered, “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is ‘yes,’ but we’re investigating it right now.” Trump warned that if a link to Tehran is established, the United States will retaliate forcefully, stating, “They’re going to get hit very hard, don’t worry about it.” Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that investigators believe the suspect underwent “Islamist and radical indoctrination,” though he provided no specific evidence linking the individual directly to the Iranian state.
Trump Rejects Tehran Truce Proposal
In an interview with Time magazine published on Thursday, President Trump acknowledged that it is “possible” to intensify bombardments against Iran after the midterm elections on November 3. When pressed for further details on his military strategy, he stated, “I can’t tell you that because, look, you know, you’re asking: where are you going to bomb?” Trump revealed that he recently rejected a truce proposal presented by Tehran, which included an offer to reopen the critical Strait of Ormuz energy transit corridor, because the overall package “wasn’t good enough.” The broader conflict has persisted since February 28, when initial U.S. and Israeli strikes began. The ongoing hostilities have raised domestic political concerns regarding rising gasoline prices for American consumers ahead of the November legislative vote. Initially acknowledging that the war could hurt the Republican Party, Trump later asserted that the outcome should help “because Iran won’t have a nuclear weapon,” adding, “100% of the people are against Iran having a nuclear attack capability, including people all over the world. So, when you say it that way, it will help.”