As ground assault looms in Iran, the United States is sending a third aircraft carrier— USS George H.W. Bush—to the Middle East, joining the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln.
With no end in sight in the 33-day war, the U.S. is likely to keep the three carrier strike groups there for the foreseeable future, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The Pentagon has also sent two of the Air Force’s new EA-37B Compass Call warfare jets to the United Kingdom ahead of their positioning in the combat zone.
The aircraft conducts intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and can execute long-range jamming, disrupt opponents’ communications, air defenses, and command systems.
The transfer of more assets coincides with the deployment of the USS Tripoli—comprising transport and fighter aircraft, as well as sailors and marines of the Amphibious Ready Group and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.
British Defence Secretary John Healey has announced the UK is sending additional service members and air defence systems to help allies counter potential Iranian attacks.
President Donald Trump will address the nation on Wednesday night on the war. He earlier told reporters at the White House that American forces could return home in “two or three weeks.”
Trump also dismissed Iran’s threat to hit U.S. companies in the region: “With what? BB guns?” he mocked. The IRGC listed Microsoft, Apple, Google, Cisco, HP, Intel, Oracle, Chase, Tesla, Boeing, Meta, IBM, Dell, Nvidia, JPMorgan, etc.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that his country was “prepared for any ground confrontation,” warning adversaries not to underestimate its resistance.
Araghchi confirmed Tehran was communicating with Washington, but no concrete negotiations. He described the messages as “warnings or mutual viewpoints,” and reaffirmed Iran “will not agree to a ceasefire.”
The IRGC, through Aerospace Commander Majid Mousavi, has claimed it targeted the residence of U.S. pilots and aircrew in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, saying it was in addition to previous strikes on AWACS, tankers, and fuel depots.
Iran and Israel launched attacks over the past day. The Iranian army said it struck centers belonging to Siemens and AT&T near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and in Haifa, while the IDF pounded weapons manufacturing sites in Iran.