2nd US aircraft carrier group moves into the Mediterranean
AP , Sunday 29 Oct 2023
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and its strike group have moved through the Strait of Gibraltar, putting two American carriers in the Mediterranean Sea, a rare sight in recent years.
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and its strike group transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on Oct. 28, 2023. Photo courtesy of US Navy.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is already in the eastern Mediterranean, part of a buildup of forces as the US supports Israel in its war on Gaza.
The Eisenhower carrier sailed into the Mediterranean on Saturday and is slated to move through the Suez Canal to the US Central Command region as the American forces expand their presence in the Middle East to deter Iran or militant groups from trying to widen the war.
The United States has sent munitions to Israel and warned other countries not to escalate the conflict.
The same day as the announcement of the second carrier deployment, President Joe Biden underscored US support for efforts to protect civilians amid the Israeli siege and bombardment of Gaza in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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