Khaberni - The American aircraft carrier "USS Gerald R. Ford" left the Middle East after participating in operations against Iran, as announced by a U.S. official on Friday, leaving two large U.S. warships in the region.
The official explained that "Ford" is currently stationed in the area of responsibility of the U.S. European Command, noting that the number of U.S. Navy ships remaining in the Middle East totals 20, including the aircraft carriers "USS Abraham Lincoln" and "USS George H.W. Bush".
"Ford" has been at sea for more than ten months, and has previously participated in U.S. operations in the Caribbean Sea, where U.S. forces carried out strikes on boats suspected of drug smuggling, intercepted oil tankers under sanctions, and arrested former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
On March 12, a fire broke out in the laundry room aboard the aircraft carrier, resulting in injuries to two sailors and causing significant damage to about one hundred beds, according to the U.S. military.
The carrier also faced significant problems with its sewage system while stationed at sea, and U.S. media reported failures in its toilets.
