Withdrawal follows months of operations as Trump says Iran hostilities have ended

Last updated: May 02, 2026 | 08:30

The move leaves two US aircraft carriers in the region -- the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush.

Riyadh: The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has left the Middle East after taking part in operations against Iran, local media reported, citing a US official.

The move leaves two US aircraft carriers in the region -- the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush.

The Ford had been at sea for more than 10 months, breaking the post-Vietnam War record for a US aircraft carrier deployment.

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On March 12, two sailors aboard the carrier were injured when a fire broke out in the main laundry spaces, according to the US Navy.

The Ford Carrier Strike Group began its latest deployment on June 24, 2025, departing from the US state of Virginia for the US European Command area of responsibility, later…