U.S. Navy Preparing to Deploy Third Carrier Strike Group to Middle East Near Iran

The U.S. Navy is preparing to deploy a third carrier strike group to the Middle East, according to Fox News. The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) has completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise and is expected to depart Naval Station Norfolk before the end of March for a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. It remains unclear whether the Bush will relieve the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), which entered the Red Sea Thursday after nearly 11 months of deployment, or serve as additional reinforcement amid ongoing hostilities with Iran.