PREVIEW

The Pentagon has dispatched two aircraft carriers, along with their supporting vessels, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to recent Hamas attacks on Israel. This deployment is intended as a deterrent to prevent the escalation of the conflict.
The Gerald R. Ford carrier, accompanied by its support fleet, arrived in the eastern Mediterranean early last week, bolstering the US military presence in the area. Simultaneously, the Pentagon has ordered the Dwight Eisenhower carrier strike group to set course for the eastern Mediterranean, a journey expected to take between one and one and a half weeks. It is seen in video footage leaving port on Saturday (14October2023).
The nuclear-powered carrier, commissioned in 1977, initially engaged in operations during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Famously known as the "Ike," it is home to 5,000 sailors and can accommodate up to nine squadrons of aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and reconnaissance aircraft capable of performing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Similarly to the Ford carrier, the Ike carrier will be joined by other vessels, such as the guided-missile cruiser Philippine Sea, and guided-missile destroyers Gravely and Mason.
While these ships possess offensive capabilities, their primary focus is on self-defense and the protection of the carrier itself. They are not optimally equipped to serve as a missile defense system for Israel, which already has sophisticated anti-missile systems in place.
NORFOLK, Va. - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) departs Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment, Oct. 13, 2023. Philippine Sea is deploying as part of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Seelbach)