The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reports the Pentagon is
dispatching a third carrier strike group plus additional amphibious ships and up
to 9,000–10,000 service members to the Middle East, with ships, aircraft and
personnel expected to arrive by end-November. USS George H. W. Bush and USS
George Washington are already in theater; USS Theodore Roosevelt departed San
Diego and the USS Makin Island amphibious ready group has sailed. If George
Washington remains, the US would have three carrier strike groups operating in
the region simultaneously for the first time since April. The Pentagon has also
extended deployments for air‑defense units and the 82nd Airborne. More than
50,000 US personnel and roughly 20 US Navy vessels are currently in the region.
The report adds President Trump is considering resuming strikes on Iran after
the midterms if no agreement is reached; an additional carrier would increase US
operational options and firepower.
