The Pentagon made changes to its Middle-East military setup‚ with fresh deployments coming as the Abraham Lincoln carrier group leaves the area (this shift happens around early-2025)
The re-alignment brings B-52s fighter-jets and Navy ships to the region: these assets show how quick the US can move its forces around. Major General Patrick Ryder made it clear that any threats to US staff or interests would get a strong response
For about 12 months the US kept two carrier groups in Middle-East waters which started when the Israel-Hamas fighting kicked-off. The Abraham Lincolnʼs exit creates a short-term gap until another carrier arrives
Last month saw direct fire between Israel and Iran while other regional issues kept growing. Hereʼs where US forces faced attacks from Iran-backed groups:
- Syria bases
- Iraq positions
- Jordan facilities
- Yemen coastal waters
The Pentagon keeps watching Iran-backed forces like Hezbollah and Houthi groups that target Israel. US military stays ready to help protect both Israeli and American interests in this part of world